Digging In: Arkansas' Top Returning Libero and DS Leaders

Before the first serve of the 2026 season, let's take a look at the top returning defensive specialist who consistently kept the ball off the floor last season. For this list I used digs and the top stat because they are the most universal defensive statistic recorded. That said, this isn't a list to declare one player is "better" than the others. Every classification features amazing volleyball players all over the state and the level of competition, composition of teams, etc... make it hard to judge. That is why these lists have been made solely on stats and by listed position. For instance, there are six-rotation outsides that may have more digs, but they are judges in the outsides list. You will not see them here.   This ranking simply recognizes statistical production. Digs determined the order, while service receptions, aces, and assists provide additional context to illustrate each player's overall impact. Recruiting evaluations will always include film, athleticism, technical skill, volleyball IQ, and level of competition, but this article is designed to highlight the players who produced at the highest level according to the numbers.   With that in mind, here are the top returning defensive specialists in Arkansas based on 2025 MaxPreps statistics.   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Rank (Digs)</th><th>Player</th><th>School</th><th>Digs</th><th>Service Receives</th><th>Aces</th><th>Assists</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='763687' first='Bristol' last='Bonanno']</td><td>Shiloh Christian</td><td>627</td><td>792</td><td>43</td><td>63</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='793405' first='Eden' last='Fields']</td><td>Northside (Fort Smith)</td><td>532</td><td>587</td><td>13</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1008845' first='Early' last='Jackson']</td><td>Dover</td><td>511</td><td>560</td><td>24</td><td>60</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='749853' first='Joely' last='Tankersley']</td><td>Har-Ber</td><td>374</td><td>532</td><td>36</td><td>85</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='809443' first='Alyssa' last='Jansen']</td><td>CAC</td><td>367</td><td>906</td><td>97</td><td>93</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1008452' first='Brenley' last='Shoe']</td><td>Pocahontas</td><td>361</td><td>0* stat not recorded </td><td>24</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1008850' first='Lynnli' last='Jo Thomas']</td><td>Valley View</td><td>359</td><td>292</td><td>32</td><td>25</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Avery McPike</td><td>Jonesboro</td><td>342</td><td>448</td><td>16</td><td>60</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1008852' first='Aubrie' last='Aich']</td><td>Greenbrier</td><td>319</td><td>358</td><td>28</td><td>78</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1008000' first='Braylin' last='Merritt']</td><td>Conway</td><td>308</td><td>378</td><td>35</td><td>63</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1008853' first='Lexie' last='Schuermann']</td><td>Brookland</td><td>308</td><td>453</td><td>33</td><td>35</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1008854' first='Lyla' last='Blagg']</td><td>Fayetteville</td><td>304</td><td>387</td><td>36</td><td>62</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>    2025 Stats: 627 Digs | 792 Receives | 43 Aces | 63 Assists   You typically would not see a freshman at the top of a list like this. But there aren't very many freshman like Bristol. Returning sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='763687' first='Bristol' last='Bonanno'] returns as one of the premier defensive players in Arkansas after leading this group with 627 digs. She also handled 792 serve receptions, demonstrating the trust placed in her as the primary passer. Bonanno contributed 43 service aces while adding 63 assists, showing the ability to transition defense into offense. Her combination of defensive range, ball control, and consistency makes her one of the state's top returning liberos. Shiloh jumps up into the competitive 6A conference this season.     2025 Stats: 532 Digs | 587 Receives | 13 Aces | 10 Assists   [player_tooltip player_id='793405' first='Eden' last='Fields'] anchors the Northside back row with steady production across every match. Her 532 digs ranked among the state's leaders while her 587 serve receptions illustrate her importance in serve receive. Fields quietly impacts matches through consistency, limiting errors while providing dependable first contacts. Her experience will counted on this season to lead a very solid Northside team that competes in what many think is the toughest division in the state, the 6A West.     2025 Stats: 511 Digs | 560 Receives | 24 Aces | 60 Assists   [player_tooltip player_id='1008845' first='Early' last='Jackson'] put together one of the state's most balanced defensive seasons. She finished with 511 digs, added 560 serve receptions, and chipped in 60 assists, Showing her ability to keep the offense in system. Jackson's all-around production reflects a backrow player capable of impacting multiple phases of the game. Can she repeat 6.2 digs per set? She will need to if the Pirates will look to improve on a 3rd place finish in the 3A-5 from 2025.     2025 Stats: 374 Digs | 532 Receives | 36 Aces | 85 Assists   [player_tooltip player_id='749853' first='Joely' last='Tankersley'] brings versatility to the Har-Ber lineup. Along with 374 digs, she added 532 serve receptions, 36 aces, and 85 assists. Those numbers show a defensive specialist who not only controls the back row but also contributes as a secondary playmaker in transition. Har-Ber has a lot of young talent coming back and they will count on Tankersley's commanding presence on the backrow to settle things down when things go sideways.     2025 Stats: 367 Digs | 906 Receives | 47 Aces | 93 Assists   Few players filled the stat sheet like [player_tooltip player_id='809443' first='Alyssa' last='Jansen']. She led this group with 906 serve receptions, 47 aces, and 93 assists while totaling 367 digs. Jansen's workload and production showcase a complete six-rotation defender who consistently influences matches with her serve, passing, and defensive leadership. Jansen is also a talented tennis player (two on this list!)     2025 Stats: 361 Digs | 24 Aces | 3 Assists   Two sport athlete, [player_tooltip player_id='1008452' first='Brenley' last='Shoe'] recorded 361 digs and 24 service aces despite limited reported statistics in other categories. Her defensive production demonstrates the ability to extend rallies and provide stability in the back row for Pocahontas. The Redskins will have most of their top producers coming back in 2026, so look for Pocahontas to challenge for the top of the division year.     2025 Stats: 359 Digs | 292 Receives | 32 Aces | 25 Assists   [player_tooltip player_id='1008850' first='Lynnli' last='Jo Thomas'] quietly produced another solid defensive season with 359 digs while adding 292 serve receptions, 32 aces, and 25 assists. She provides reliable ball control and continues to develop into an important piece of Valley View's defensive system. Another two sport star, Thomas also plays softball for Valley View. At 5'7" she is taller than most DS/L on this list. Valley View will miss the production of Bonnie Fagan, but most of the production from last year's team is coming back. They meet a stiff challenge right off the bat vs Brookland.     2025 Stats: 342 Digs | 448 Receives | 16 Aces | 60 Assists   Avery McPike contributed across multiple statistical categories, finishing with 342 digs, 448 serve receptions, and 60 assists. Her ability to defend, pass, and facilitate transition offense makes her a dependable back-row contributor. : In September 2025, she was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the Fort Smith Invitational after recording 31 digs, 10 assists, and 2 kills. Mcpike is also an accomplished tennis player. With so much talent from last year's team graduating, Avery could step up into another role, but her backrow defense will always be counted on.     2025 Stats: 319 Digs | 358 Receives | 28 Aces | 78 Assists   [player_tooltip player_id='1008852' first='Aubrie' last='Aich']'s balanced stat line reflects her value in Greenbrier's lineup. She totaled 319 digs, 358 serve receptions, 28 aces, and 78 assists, demonstrating an ability to contribute well beyond defensive play. Taking into account the youth of last season's Panther team, they should be much improved this season as they return stat leaders in every category. They came in second in the 5A central with a team comprised of a lot of sophomores and some freshman. This season they return one of the most experience teams in any division. Even with the youth movement, Greenbrier was still 13-3 and finished second in the 5A Central.     2025 Stats: 308 Digs | 378 Receives | 35 Aces | 63 Assists   [player_tooltip player_id='1008000' first='Braylin' last='Merritt'] continued to impact Conway with 308 digs, 378 serve receptions, 35 aces, and 63 assists. Her production shows a player capable of controlling the back row while providing offensive support through serving and transition play. Merritt is a standout softball player for Conway (.320 Avg,14 RBIs and 13 steals) is as well as a talented volleyball player. This year she is expected to handle to full time Libero role for the back to back state champion Wampus Cats. There will be a lot of new faces for Conway this year, can they make a 3rd straight title run?     2025 Stats: 308 Digs | 453 Receives | 33 Aces | 35 Assists   [player_tooltip player_id='1008853' first='Lexie' last='Schuermann'] compiled 308 digs while handling 453 serve receptions. She also added 33 aces and 35 assists, highlighting her reliability in serve receive and ability to contribute in multiple areas of the game.Brookland has turned out plenty of quality players over the years and Lexie fits that mold. Brookland will be a senior laden team in 2026 with [player_tooltip player_id='806194' first='Kinley' last='Hammett'], [player_tooltip player_id='821434' first='Kinlee' last='Crafton'], and Schuermann hoping to restore Brookland back to the top of the division.     2025 Stats: 304 Digs | 387 Receives | 36 Aces | 62 Assists   [player_tooltip player_id='1008854' first='Lyla' last='Blagg'] rounded out this group with 304 digs, 387 serve receptions, 36 aces, and 62 assists. Her well-rounded production demonstrates consistency in ball control while also creating opportunities with her serve and defensive playmaking. The rising junior will have a great cast to work with as she returns alongside [player_tooltip player_id='749906' first='Molly' last='Miller'], transfer [player_tooltip player_id='749911' first='Avah' last='Brown'], Kenzy Houge, Ivy Kirkconnell and [player_tooltip player_id='809380' first='Eva' last='Mcpike']. After finishing 2nd in the 6A West last season, the Bulldogs will look to get back in championship form in 2026.    The stats used in this article were uploaded into MaxPreps. I realize there are some teams that didn't upload stats last season, please encourage coaches to do so. It's your play that matters, but stats do help paint a picture. We will continue to grow our database and be inclusive of players from all around the state. If you know a player that deserved to be highlighted, I'd love to hear about them. Reach out to me at <a href="mailto:bdsrecruiting10@gmail.com">bdsrecruiting10@gmail.com</a> or connect with me on X (predigRob) and Instagram(@prepdigarrob). Let's continue showcasing the incredible talent Arkansas volleyball has to offer.

Before the first serve of the 2026 season, let's take a look at the top returning defensive specialist who consistently kept the ball off the floor last season. For this list I used digs and the top stat because they are the most universal defensive statistic recorded. That said, this isn't a list to declare one player is "better" than the others. Every classification features amazing volleyball players all over the state and the level of competition, composition of teams, etc... make it hard to judge. That is why these lists have been made solely on stats and by listed position. For instance, there are six-rotation outsides that may have more digs, but they are judges in the outsides list. You will not see them here.