The Class of 2026 looks to be another stellar year for high school volleyball talent.
Today, we continue our position-by-position breakdown of the upcoming season with the libero spot after zeroing in on
outside hitters,
middles and
setters earlier in the week.
These 10 players have demonstrated through their prep careers, as well as club seasons, that they are the anchors of the defense. While the stats might not be as quantifiable as the termination numbers of an outside hitter, it starts with the reception and on defense.
Kiley Brooks, Northwest (Justin, Texas)5-foot-8 | Committed to LSU
She is approaching 2,000 career digs. With great court presence and awareness, Brooks also added 477 serve receptions.
5-8 | AlabamaThe Aztecs went 37-7 and reached the Class 6A final a year ago. Clark had 566 digs (4.8 per set) while anchoring the defense. She enters her senior year with 1,556 digs.
Emma Cugino, Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, Ohio)
5-8 | Texas
A first-team All-State selection last year after posting 385 digs, 189 assists and 59 kills in reaching the Division I regional final.
Kami Dyrstad, Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.)
5-5 | RutgersLed the way for the Titans (34-5) with 507 serve receptions and 471 digs as Papillion-LaVista South won the Class A title.
5-6 | Colgate
She
was the back-row anchor for the eight-time state champion Knights. She
dug 405 balls with 385 receptions as the squad went 43-6.
5-6 | Baylor
One the top-ranked liberos by PrepDig had 706 receptions, 644 digs and 49 aces.
5-9 | Florida State (beach)
Grabbed a Southern Section beach title in the spring with twin Avery. Last fall, she had 439 digs, 50 assists and 33 aces.
5-6 | Auburn
Behind MaxPreps All-American Kristen Simon, Keiran put together a great season with 423 receptions and 358 digs as the Rockets once again claimed the Kentucky state title.
5-8 | Nebraska
An
outside hitter for the Jackrabbits, she will transition to the libero
spot in Lincoln. She built off last year's stats (448 serve receptions,
348 kills and 291 digs) with a tremendous club season with AZ Storm
Elite.
5-4 | Texas A&M
The Libero of the Year in Conference 5A by the Texas Sports Writers Association, she posted 937 digs and 688 receptions as the Bulldogs went 28-12 and reached the Conference 5A Division 1 final. She will be in Indonesia over the next week competing with USA Volleyball at the FIVB U21 World Championship.
