Class 1 POY Watch List

Class 1 schools have enrollments of 136 students or below so finding teams stacked with talent in every position is hard with such low numbers. But never count out the small schools when they take on bigger classes. I've seen a lot of Class 1 schools taking wins over the bigger schools. These are schools that are lucky to have more than seven or eight on a roster. Some schools are lucky to have a junior varsity program. But larger enrollment numbers don't equate to wins either. This is the first year that I've put together a list of athletes that I feel are the top players in Class 1.  Below is my watch list for Class 1 Player of the Year.   [player_tooltip player_id='168900' first='Alexis' last='Hoffman'] – 2024 - Middle/Setter – Advance   Hoffman does just about everything for the Hornets and guided her team to the Class 1 title last year. They are the favorites to repeat this season and having a 6'2” middle that helps run the offense is impressive. For her career, she has 1325 kills, 239 blocks, 694 digs, and 841 assists. Her career high for kills in a match is 29.   [player_tooltip player_id='234465' first='Kaesha' last='Walter'] – 2024 - Middle – Galena   She might be 5'4” but her 30-inch vertical is unreal. A high flyer with hang time like Jordan. Kaesha will leave Galena as the school's greatest volleyball player. 1212 career kills, 362 total blocks, and 1377 digs. Looking to guide Galena to the school first first-ever final four.   [player_tooltip player_id='124857' first='Danika' last='Wattenbarger'] – 2024 - Setter – St. Joseph Christian   As a four-year starter, Danika has led her team to a 94-19 record. She currently passed 3,000 career assists to go along with 108 kills, 183 aces, and 508 digs. Her 3,010 career assists move her into 8th in MSHSAA record books. A deep playoff run and she could finish as high as 4th.   [player_tooltip player_id='168909' first='Anna' last='Parker'] – 2024 - Libero – South Iron   Parker has been a starter from the get-go for the Panthers and has 1,202 career digs. Ranks as one of the top Class 1 liberos in her four-year stint and is also a top-rated guard for the Panthers basketball team.   [player_tooltip player_id='234361' first='Crystal' last='Smith'] – 2025 - Middle – Jasper   I love watching her highlight videos and the crowd noise when he has one of her thunderous attacks. Amid the school's best season ever Crystal has 1320 career kills, 243 blocks, and 593 digs. At 5'10 her vertical is outstanding and the power in her right arm is impressive. A ball bouncer!   [player_tooltip player_id='237004' first='Rylee' last='Jenkins'] – 2024 – Middle – Rock Port   Rylee will leave Rock Port as the school's all-time best player. She reached 1,000 career kills this season to go along with her 229 aces, 297 blocks, and 896 digs. Only a few Class 1 players can hit as hard as Rylee.   [player_tooltip player_id='170031' first='Kameron' last='Dankenbring'] – 2024 – Outside – Santa Fe   Another four-year starter for the Class 1 powerhouse. Kameron is a hard-hitting outside with 1,060 career kills and 836 digs. Comes from a long line of dominating outside hitters from Alma Santa Fe.   [player_tooltip player_id='232323' first='Lexi' last='Lindsey'] – 2026 – Setter – Winona   Class 1 power Winona has had some great setters over the years and Lexi will go down as one of the best. Came in last year as a freshman and led her team to the final four. Lexi currently has 1855 career assists in two seasons placing her in 35th in MSHSAA career assists record books with two more years to go.     Karli Smith – 2024 – Middle – Northwest   Karli has Northwest in a position to make some noise in the playoffs. The 5'10 middle currently has 481 career kills, 550 digs, and 92 blocks as a six-rotation middle. Unfortunately, the last two seasons are all that is reported statistically for Karli.

Class 1 schools have enrollments of 136 students or below so finding teams stacked with talent in every position is hard with such low numbers. But never count out the small schools when they take on bigger classes. I've seen a lot of Class 1 schools taking wins over the bigger schools. These are schools that are lucky to have more than seven or eight on a roster. Some schools are lucky to have a junior varsity program. But larger enrollment numbers don't equate to wins either. This is the first year that I've put together a list of athletes that I feel are the top players in Class 1. Below is my watch list for Class 1 Player of the Year.