As we approach a brand new season of volleyball, here are some of the top returning players from the 260 that you should have your eyes on for 2025.

Maya Harris Senior Outside Hitter (Angola)

Last season was a special one at Angola where the Hornets reached the 3A State Finals before bowing out to Indianapolis Roncali in straight sets. While the Hornets will obviously need to fill the setter position with the graduation of older sister Ava Harris (now at Villanova), Illinois commit Maya Harris has been sensational since sporting the Angola uniform recording career totals of 1,164 kills, hitting .332, 257 aces, 96 blocks, and 594 digs in just 275 sets played. 

Last season, under Head Coach Brian Harris, Maya cemented herself as one of the best outside hitters in the Midwest amongst her class with career highs of 676 kills, .373 hitting %, 127 aces, 53 blocks, and 265 digs. Angola went 32-5 that season winning the NECC and notably winning close five-set matches against West Lafayette (Southwood Regional) and NorthWood (Plymouth Semi-State) to reach Muncie in the State Finals. 

Now with that state run under their belt, Angola-expected to win the NECC once again-now has the confidence to make it back to the state finals on paper. While Angola graduated all four of their team captains in Anna McClure (Libero), Lexi Stillman (Outside Hitter), Bailey Holman (Middle), and Ava Harris (Setter), Angola returns an additional seven seniors to this year’s squad. But more importantly, they also return 5 sophomores that played some varsity volleyball last season. Two of many names in particular that are expected to contribute this fall are Kendall Holman (Middle) and Ella Savick (Setter). 

Cala Haffner Sophomore Libero/Defensive Specialist (FW Carroll)

Making waves in the statewide scene of girls’ volleyball, Cala Haffner has quickly established herself as one of the state’s premier players in her class with state and national honors already at full display. Pressure was already high, knowing that she was following the footsteps of older sister Taylor Haffner (now at Purdue Fort Wayne), but there was even more pressure having to quickly adapt to what was already a title-contending squad at Carroll. 

The 2024 season proved that Carroll Girls’ Volleyball belongs with the best programs in the state where they went 33-3 beating Homestead to win the Homestead Regional, beating reigning state champion Hamilton Southeastern to reach Muncie, and sweeping perennial power Yorktown of all teams to win the 4A State Championship (the first in program history). 

Haffner-as a freshman-had an immediate impact leading the team with 453 digs, 2nd in aces with 60, and finishing 2nd with 80 assists. The sky’s the limit for the now sophomore phenom who already looks like one of the most sought out prospects in all of volleyball, and the party is just getting started. 

Ellie Hepler Senior Libero (Warsaw) 

The Indiana commit helped Warsaw in a huge way last season as the Tigers posted a 28-7 record thus winning the NLC once again, but they were unable to get over the hump in the Twin Lakes Regional as Crown Point edged them in five sets. While some names graduated at Warsaw, a solid junior class plus a deep sophomore class comes to the program with high expectations to contend in the always competitive 4A field. 

Hepler-as a junior-became one of the top liberos in the state recording a team-best 511 digs, 2nd on the team in aces with 55, and 3rd at Warsaw in assists with 106. The NLC is not going to be a cakewalk once again as conference foe NorthWood anticipates yet another season filled with high expectations, despite the fact they will have to replace a huge hole up the middle with the graduation of Claire Payne (now at South Carolina).  

MaryKate Scheumann Senior Outside Hitter (Bellmont) 

A future Purdue Boilermaker, Scheumann had another monster season for the always competitive Bellmont Braves as they went 24-8 and continued their dominant ways in the NE8. However, the postseason was not kind to the Braves as they were ousted in the semifinals of sectional play by the Homestead Spartans, thus ending an impressive streak of 19 straight sectional titles that only trailed the IHSAA record of 26 set by Castle from 1994-2019. 

In 293 sets played in her high school career, Scheumann has recorded totals of 1,174 kills (517 in 2024), .327 hitting percentage (hit .355 in 2024), 81 aces (47 from 2024), 104 blocks (50 from 2024), and 741 digs (358 from 2024). You know that whenever you play Bellmont, the opponents expect a good dose of Scheumann at all times. Bellmont only graduated two players off of last season’s squad as the team fields six seniors-one of which also includes the Purdue Fort Wayne commit Alyssa Gumbel at the middle-and at least four juniors that were on the varsity roster last season. 

As usual, the Braves are expected to win the NE8, but their expectations are always about winning another state championship for the town of Decatur. They have come close numerous times over the last seven years. Could 2025 be the year Bellmont makes another deep playoff run? To do that, they’ll have to figure out how to get past Homestead first. 

Bailey Sinish Senior Middle Hitter (FW Carroll)

When it comes to one of the top players in the state of Indiana in 2024, Bailey Sinish was on that list as she is projected to be a Indiana Miss Volleyball contender (an award given to the best senior player in Indiana) in 2025.  The future IU Indy Jaguar is one of the top players on the radar for the 2025 season. 

Most people know of Sinish for her monster offensive play. In 312 sets played, Sinish has recorded career totals of 1,251 kills, hitting .319, and 105 aces. Over the last 2 seasons alone, Sinish has recorded 964 kills (averaging well over 4.5 kills per set), 100 aces, and hitting a career best .351 in 2024.

But it’s her 5’11 height on the defensive side that makes Sinish that much of a problem for opposing teams. 128 career blocks and 636 career digs. And I forgot to mention that Carroll doesn’t play in a conference (outside of football and basketball). The Chargers always have to create a schedule that best prepares them for a postseason run every single year, making it difficult to find the balance of meeting expectations and maintaining success. 

So far, Carroll Girls’ Volleyball has cracked the code when it comes to fielding a team best suited to compete with the best. However, 2025 will be a much different season for Carroll on paper. Last season, they were the hunters in 4A, whereas now they will be the hunted. Everyone in the volleyball space knows Carroll Girls’ Volleyball has a state championship under their belt, and that changes the perception of the program when you walk into the halls of Charger Fieldhouse with a state championship banner being displayed. 

Honorable Mentions

Sophia Gisslen Senior Setter (FW Carroll)

Quietly in route of a championship season, Gisslen became one of the state’s best all-around setters for a stacked Carroll squad that essentially returns everybody (except for Chloe Herschberger of course). As a setter, she recorded 42 kills, hitting .223, 50 aces, 151 digs, 72 blocks, and an impressive 1,141 assists. Gisslen is verbally committed to continue the sport at Quinnipiac making her one of six returning players that have already announced their college decisions (Sinish to IU Indy, Elli Osksy to Loyola Chicago, Sarah Stegall to Notre Dame, Lauren Peters to Wisconsin-Parkside, and Lola Sasse to Rollins).

Abbie Powell Sophomore Middle Blocker (Southern Wells)

Arguably the most underrated volleyball player in all of Indiana, Abbie Powell led the state in hitting percentage (.544), while placing in the top 5 statewide in her class for kills (387), aces (75), and digs (77). Powell-a 6’0 middle-helped Southern Wells to their winningest season in program history posting a record of 14-15, despite struggling against the gauntlet of the ACAC. The rising 1A program returns several players back looking to achieve their first ever winning season for girls’ volleyball. 

Elyse Mead Sophomore Outside Hitter (West Noble) 

In an impressive turnaround season at West Noble, Elyse Mead became one of the top freshmen in all of Indiana. Mead led the state amongst her class in kills (461), 5th in digs (329), and 6th in aces (65) as the Chargers went 25-8 and 8-2 in NECC play in 2024. With several returning players back such as setter Ella Limerick (sophomore), libero Addyson Burns (sophomore), libero Darcy Ritchie (junior), middle hitter Ava DeLong (sophomore), middle hitter Reagan Eash (junior), and defensive specialist/outside hitter Izzy Beers (junior), the Chargers have their most promising nucleus since Madison Schermerhorn and the 2019 class came through Ligonier.