Return of the Attackers: Arkansas's Top Outside Hitters for 26

Several of the state's most productive attackers are back for another season, headlined by a pair of future college teammates who eclipsed 550 kills in 2025. Here's a look at the top returning outside hitters entering the 2026 season. (based off stats entered into MaxPreps)   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Player</th><th>School</th><th>Pos.</th><th>Kills</th><th>Kills/Set</th><th>Hitting %</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='569597' first='Emmerson' last='Rehkopf']</td><td>Farmington</td><td>OH</td><td>591</td><td>5.2</td><td>.454</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='859443' first='Ava' last='Beasley']</td><td>Paragould</td><td>OH/DS</td><td>569</td><td>5.3</td><td>.428</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='743939' first='Audrey' last='Calva']</td><td>Bentonville West</td><td>OH</td><td>443</td><td>4.2</td><td>.421</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1008023' first='Tristyn' last='Moseley']</td><td>Greenbrier</td><td>OH</td><td>431</td><td>4.6</td><td>.359</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='566871' first='Tristen' last='Hamilton']</td><td>Bentonville</td><td>OH/RS</td><td>369</td><td>3.7</td><td>.387</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='809961' first='Kendall' last='Brown']</td><td>Marion</td><td>OH/MB</td><td>347</td><td>3.8</td><td>.425</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='749842' first='Erika' last='Ellis']</td><td>Siloam Springs</td><td>OH/DS</td><td>340</td><td>3.6</td><td>.356</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1008021' first='Lynley' last='Seyler']</td><td>Brookland</td><td>OH/DS</td><td>326</td><td>2.7</td><td>.316</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='806194' first='Kinley' last='Hammett']</td><td>Brookland</td><td>OH/DS</td><td>301</td><td>2.6</td><td>.291</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='569563' first='Ellis' last='Pierce']</td><td>Baptist Prep</td><td>OH</td><td>292</td><td>2.5</td><td>.328</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>    2025 Stats: 113 Sets | 591 Kills | 5.2 Kills/Set | .454 Hitting %   Emmerson enters the 2026 season in the same spot she ended the 2025, at the top. Will she reach 600 kills this season? She combines high production with outstanding efficiency, making her one the state's most complete weapons. Add in her 45 aces, 355 digs, and 385 serve receives, Rehkopf is an all-around talent for the Farmington Cardinals. Expect to see the Rehkopf name a lot of the next few years. Sister Taitum is 2028 RS and Farmington Softball player, and other sister Kennedy is 2031 libero already making noise!     2025 Stats: 107 Sets | 569 Kills | 5.3 Kills/Set | .428 Hitting %   Rehkopf's future teammate in college, [player_tooltip player_id='859443' first='Ava' last='Beasley'] is one of the most dynamic six-rotation players in Arkansas. Producing more than 5 kills per set while racking up 395 digs and 59 assists. The four-year starter looks to cap off an amazing career at Paragould that has seen her start as a freshman setter/RS(racking up 296 assists and 452 kills) to sophomore season cut short just playing 18 sets to roaring back as an outside in 2025. She also totaled 54 blocks last season for the Rams. Look for her to expand on her impressive numbers again this season.     2025 Stats: 105 Sets | 443 Kills | 4.2 Kills/Set | .421 Hitting %   Another premier hitter from Northwest Arkansas is Bentonville-West's [player_tooltip player_id='743939' first='Audrey' last='Calva']. The OBU commit tore it up last season averaging over four kills per set. As of 2025 she sits at 1000 career kills on the button after back-to-back 400 + kill seasons. She added 141 kills as a true freshman. A true offensive force in the 6A West. Calva also racked up 54 aces. Audrey also racked up 268 digs and 30 blocks to round out her stats. She rarely wastes swings; her combination of shot selection and offensive consistency should make her a top producer in 2026.     2025 Stats: 94 Sets | 431 Kills | 4.6 Kills/Set | .359 Hitting %   Not your typical sized outside hitter, but that didn't stop Tristyn from having a breakout freshman campaign. One would expect those numbers from a seasoned veteran, not a freshman. She added 37 aces, 335 digs, 468 serve receives and 19 blocks to go along with her kills. Moseley is not a one-dimensional player. She is dependable all over the court, helping the Panthers to a 5A central record of 13-3 and a second-place finish. With all but one of their top scorers returning, look out for Greenbrier this season. Moseley is another two sport star making all conference and 5A all state tournament team in basketball. Quite a freshman year.     2025 Stats: 100 Sets | 369 Kills | 3.7 Kills/Set | .387 Hitting %   Another player headed to North Alabama; Hamilton continues to prove that production isn't determined by height. The 5'9" star attacks with great timing, competes in every phase of the game, and consistently delivers in big moments. She tallied 368 digs, 69 blocks and 37 aces to show the versatility in her game. Bentonville we counting on more big swings in the 2026 season to try and get the Tigers back to the championship game.     2025 Stats: 91 Sets | 347 Kills | 3.8 Kills/Set | .425 Hitting %   The 5A state championship run Marion went on last season was in large part to their versatile offense. Leading that charge was [player_tooltip player_id='809961' first='Kendall' last='Brown']. Brown will have to repeat that and then some with the losses of Kennedy Bullins and Kaitlyn Austin. But with [player_tooltip player_id='1008008' first='Jaida' last='Sturdivant'] returning along with Brown do not expect much of a drop off. Brown is as dynamic as they come. She can play all three front-row positions and her attack from the backrow is impressive. She was third on the team with 50 blocks and 224 digs. Kendall's championship pedigree will be heading to Mississippi State after her senior year.     [player_tooltip player_id='749842' first='Erika' last='Ellis'] returns for her senior year at Siloam Springs with 596 career kills for the Panthers. Ellis is another six-rotation player who contributes well beyond the stat sheet. She provides steady offense from the outside while also bringing defensive value. Her consistency makes her one of the more dependable attackers returning this season. Last season she racked up 291 digs and had 72 assists.     2025 Stats: 122 Sets | 326 Kills | 2.7 Kills/Set | .316 Hitting %   After playing sparingly as a freshman, Seyler broke out in a big way as sophomore in 2025. That is the kind of improvement you want to see when a player gets the chance to show what she can do. Lynley was able to add 35 blocks, 371 digs and 72 aces to round out her stat sheet. With most of their offense returning in 2026 look for Brookland to push to make a run to Hot Springs for the title.     2025 Stats: 117 Sets | 301 Kills | 2.6 Kills/Set | .291 Hitting %   Teaming with Seyler, [player_tooltip player_id='806194' first='Kinley' last='Hammett'] forms a strong one-two punch for the Bearcats. Contributing on defense, with 418 digs and 15 blocks, Hammett keeps the team in rhythm with her pinpoint passing and can hit well from the back row. She is solid in serve receive and an overall consistent performer for Brookland. Hammett brings balance to Brookland's offense with her ability to contribute from both the front and back rows. Another step forward could elevate her into the state's top tier of outside hitters.     2025 Stats: 115 Sets | 292 Kills | 2.5 Kills/Set | .328 Hitting %   Pierce quietly put together one of the better offensive seasons in central Arkansas. She is positioned to have a great senior season. Pierce has a great connection with setter [player_tooltip player_id='752220' first='Olivia' last='Miller'] and look for those two to connect a lot this season. She will have to pick up more of the load defensively this coming season, but that won't be problem for Pierce. Look for her to improve on her blocking and adding to her dig totals (114). Ellis is smart hitter and finds the holes in the defense well. Baptist Prep most of the offense returning from an excellent team last season (8-1 in the 4A 5).    This article is based off stats 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.

Several of the state's most productive attackers are back for another season, headlined by a pair of future college teammates who eclipsed 550 kills in 2025. Here's a look at the top returning outside hitters entering the 2026 season. (based off stats entered into MaxPreps)