High School Volleyball is Back: See Who Is On Our Radar

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The wait is over; high school volleyball is back in action. As teams across the area step back onto the court, new faces step into bigger roles, seasoned players look to build on past seasons, and every athlete is looking to make their mark. With the 2026 season in full swing, here are five players that are on our radar this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1004419"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a97567176265"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After finishing first overall in the 5A Rocky Mountain League last season, Deleon and the Wolves will look to build off of that success in their 2026 season. Although undersized as an outside hitter, Deleon is a high flyer. She jumps out of the gym and also has a high IQ for the game. As a sophomore, she tallied 256 kills and averaged 3.7 kills per set, and just three games into the 2026 season, she is already averaging 4.3 kills per set. I wouldn't overlook Deleon and her team this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["532762"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a975671762d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Entering her junior campaign, Jones has made a name for herself at the net. As a sophomore, she had 92 blocks, averaged 1.0 blocks per set, and brought in 169 kills on the season. Jones is long and is a threat on defense that teams should be aware of. She is also very successful off one foot, which makes her even harder to stop. This 6'1 junior will help lead Berthoud into another successful year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1023167"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a97567176325"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Regis Jesuit is currently one of the top teams in the 5A rankings and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1023167' first='Emme' last='Phillips'] has played into the early success of her team so far this season. Philips is a strong defender with great range. Her serve receive is top-notch as well. She's a leader for her team and is cool, calm and collected in pressure situations. Phillips will be a backbone for the Raiders this year and help lead them into a strong 2026 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1000204"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a9756717636a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harzbecker is a season player for Cherry Creek. Whether she is operating as a right side or as the setter, Harzbecker stands out. As a setter, she operates a very strong offense. In her sophomore campaign, she averaged 3.9 assists per set and dished out 236 digs on the season. As a hitter, she swings very well down the line and also knows how to place the ball in the deep corner. Harzbecker is one to watch as she steps into her junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["887384"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a975671763ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stepping into her sophomore season, Friedly will play a major role for Fossil Ridge. Friedly is dynamic. She can swing from both pins and is a go-to for the SaberCats when they're needing a kill. Another thing that stands out about Friedly is her arm swing. She's got a quick arm that will make it hard for blockers and defenders to read and will put her just one second ahead of the game. Friedly will continue to grow her game this year and will be a key piece for Fossil Ridge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->