2025 Arkansas POY Watchlist: First 10 Athletes Announced

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're proud to launch our first AVCA-Inspired Arkansas Player of the Year Watchlist, spotlighting the top high school volleyball talent across the state. Modeled after the AVCA's format, this recognition honors athletes for their performance, impact, and leadership both on and off the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're kicking things off with an initial list of 10 standout players. We'll be adding 20 more names on August 21, with midseason additions coming on September 21, semifinalists revealed on October 21, finalists named on October 31, and the winner announced on November 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Selections for our Arkansas AVCA-Inspired Watchlist are based on a combination of factors that showcase each athlete's true impact on the court. Key criteria include:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Effectiveness on the court:</strong> How well the player performs during matches, including consistency, skill level, and decision-making.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Statistics:</strong> Measurable contributions such as kills, assists, digs, blocks, aces, hitting percentage, and other relevant stats.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Leadership:</strong> Influence on teammates, communication, work ethic, and overall presence as a team leader both in games and practices.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are eligible for this award.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Importantly, no player's eligibility or placement will be affected by college commitments, school classification, or program size. This watchlist celebrates all players who demonstrate excellence, regardless of external factors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the first 10 players to earn a spot on the 2025 Watchlist:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='808123' first='Michaelyn' last='Freeman'] – Senior, OH, Hackett (University of Tulsa)<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='808122' first='Chloe' last='Blessing'] – Senior, OH, Shiloh Christian<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='743705' first='Wren' last='Jones'] – Senior, OH, Conway (University of Evansville)<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='411288' first='Piper' last='Batie'] – Senior, Setter, Fayetteville (University of Missouri)<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='535392' first='Mecate' last='Marsh'] – Senior, Setter, Cabot (Henderson State University)<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='743712' first='Madilyn' last='Lenox'] – Senior, Middle, Cabot (University of Arkansas - Little Rock)<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='809769' first='Madi' last='Bryant'] – Senior, Middle, Har-Ber (University of Central Arkansas)<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='743711' first='Kayla' last='Myers'] – Senior, RS, Central Arkansas Christian (Texas Wesleyan)<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='746453' first='Breanna' last='Williamson'] – Senior, DS/L, Bryant High School&nbsp;<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='744606' first='Miranda' last='Leslie'] – Senior, DS/L, Mayflower High School</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The competition is deep, and this list is only the beginning. Stay tuned for more standout athletes to be recognized in the coming months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator -->