Top Returning 2026 Hitters to Watch in Class 1

Prep Dig Staff

August 1, 2025 @ 05:23 PM

As the Missouri high school volleyball season quickly approaches, teams are gearing up for an exciting year. With just two weeks until the season kicks off, all eyes are on the top returning hitters in Class 1, whose powerful swings and precise plays are sure to make waves across the state. These athletes, many of whom have already established themselves as standout performers, are poised to lead their teams to new heights. Let's take a look at the top returning hitters in Missouri Class 1 and what makes them players to watch this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='836094' first='Melanie' last='Rice'] – 5'7” – Galena   Melanie will start her final year for the Bears with 1084 career kills after leading Class 1 in kills last year with an impressive 632. Melanie will look to continue the postseason run for Galena, which has a record of 97-17-2 with Melanie in the lineup.   [player_tooltip player_id='807849' first='Ashley' last='Hawkins'] – 5'9” – Bismarck   Bismarck was the only Class 1 team to give Winona much trouble in the playoffs last season, and Ashley will look for redemption this season. The powerful outside for the Indians has a career kills total of 1106 and finished 2nd in Class 1 with 557 last season. I watched Ashley during the district championship, and she can take over a match.   [player_tooltip player_id='490124' first='Gabby' last='Meyer'] – 5'10” – Northwest   It's hard to put Gabby in a particular position because she has played just about everywhere for Northwest. She is 74 kills away from 1,000 career kills and can leave Northwest as the school's best player in over a decade.   [player_tooltip player_id='828367' first='Taylor' last='Williams'] – 5'9” – Winona   Taylor took giant steps from her freshman to sophomore year and followed it up with a state title in her junior year, amassing 421 kills during the championship run. Taylor was my MVP at last year's final four, and the six-rotation middle will look to repeat as Class 1 State Champions.   [player_tooltip player_id='809803' first='Miranda' last='Rieger'] – 5'9” – Mound City   Mound City returns a top attacker in Miranda, who had 405 kills last year. She has a season high of 25 in a loss during the playoffs to Rock Port. Miranda has a great vertical and hang time, which allows her to find the holes in the defense to be a terminator for Mound City.   [player_tooltip player_id='828494' first='Piper' last='Lincoln'] – 5'8” – Leopold   Leopold has a loaded team this season, and Piper put down 328 kills last season, pushing her career total to 716. With another big season, we could see Piper reach 1000 career kills. Piper will be in one of the top Class 1 hitters in the SEMO area.

As the Missouri high school volleyball season quickly approaches, teams are gearing up for an exciting year. With just two weeks until the season kicks off, all eyes are on the top returning hitters in Class 1, whose powerful swings and precise plays are sure to make waves across the state. These athletes, many of whom have already established themselves as standout performers, are poised to lead their teams to new heights. Let's take a look at the top returning hitters in Missouri Class 1 and what makes them players to watch this fall.