Derrick Webb

Derrick is SOSA's chief content coordinator and has worked for the Chillicothe Gazette, the Portsmouth Daily Times and Eleven Warriors. He's a 15-time award-winning journalist, a self-proclaimed baseball purist, a suffering Bengals fan and has never met a stranger.

Ranking the Area’s Top 30 Volleyball Players: 20-11

July 14, 2025
, 5:37 pm
, Features

We take a look at the area's top 30 volleyball players, continuing with numbers 20-11.

Derrick Webb, Staff Writer

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

If you remember last season — and how could you forget — the area’s volleyball scene provided plenty of drama and an abundance of success as usual.

Between the SVC, SOC, FAC, SHAC, OVC, MSL-Buckeye and TVC, the seven conferences within SOSA’s coverage reach, seven different programs earned district titles.

But en route to those postseason finishes, there were plenty of individual performances to rave about, multiple records broken and tons of matches that won’t soon be forgotten.

As for this season, we expect much more of the same. But before it happens, for the fifth straight year, we’ve decided to compile a list of the coverage area’s top 30 players. It was an absolute bear to do so, but we think we’ve got a list of 30 athletes who are the absolute best at their craft.

Remember, this list only includes players from within SOSA’s coverage area and it isn’t an end all, be all. We encourage discussion, and giving our athletes the recognition they deserve is always our mission.

20. Claire Newman, Northwest

2024 statistics: 271 kills, 52 aces, 73 blocks, 186 digs, 34 assists

For whatever reason, Newman has flown under the radar throughout the last three seasons. But the work she’s put in during that time has set her up for what could be a huge senior campaign. She’ll enter 2025 with career totals of 721 kills, 591 digs and 110 aces, looking to play add-on.

19. Karlee Snavely, Sophomore, Zane Trace

2024 statistics: 193 kills, 34 aces, 49 blocks, 236 digs, 460 assists

Snavely played a huge role, and played it well, throughout last season — one that ended with the Pioneers winning their first district title since 2012. But in the tournament, she threw her coming-out party, posting 40 kills in ZT’s final four matches. She’ll be fun to watch this fall.

18. Sidney Johnson, Senior, Waverly

2024 statistics: 483 kills, 37 aces, 5 blocks, 431 digs, 24 assists

Johnson put her name on the map in 2024 and it came with a team-high 483 kills and 37 aces. When you tack on 431 digs, you get one of the best all-around players in our area. The Tigers will go as far as Johnson takes them. Judging by last year’s numbers, they’ll be dangerous.

Waverly’s Sidney Johnson posted 483 kills and 431 digs last season.
CREDIT: *Derrick Webb/SOSA*

17. Addison Edgington, Junior, Circleville

2024 statistics: 48 kills, 0 aces, 13 blocks, 13 digs, 10 assists

If you don’t know about Edgington’s journey by now, you haven’t been paying attention. The fact that she’s on the court is a miracle. But to play at the level she has, well, that’s an act of God. If she can return to the level she played at as a freshman, the Tigers may be the MSL favorites.

16. Maycee Ford, Senior, Notre Dame

2024 statistics: 271 kills, 0 aces, 7 blocks, 71 digs, 0 assists

If Ford gets a good pass, and she’s in position, she’s virtually unstoppable. That’s true even if the opponent knows she’s getting the ball. Her 271 kills were a career high in 2024. You can bet your bottom dollar that number will rise this fall as she looks to lead her Titans on a lengthy run.

15. Grace Woodward, Senior, Wheelersburg

2024 statistics: 242 kills, 37 aces, 7 blocks, 330 digs, 24 assists

Explosive. That’s the best way to describe Woodward. When she gets a hold of a ball, well you know what they say about being on the tracks when the train is coming through. While the Pirates enjoyed a 24-win season in 2024, Woodward posted 242 kills and 330 digs. She’s elite.

14. Braelyn Simpson, Sophomore, Eastern Meigs

2024 statistics: 323 kills, 35 aces, 21 blocks, 326 digs, 8 assists

En route to 16 wins, a league title and a district final appearance, Simpson was absolutely phenomenal last year. The freshman played like a seasoned veteran, posting a team-high 323 kills and 38.5 kill percentage, alongside 326 digs. She’ll again be a force to be reckoned with.

13. Aubree Frazier, Junior, Gallia Academy

2024 statistics: 301 kills, 3 aces, 14 blocks, 45 digs, 2 assists

The Blue Angels should feel like the next two years are theirs to shine, and they have good reason for that. Frazier is one of them. With 301 kills and a .273 hit percentage, she helped her teammates pick up 18 wins and compete for an OVC title. They’ll be the OVC favorite this fall.

Eastern’s Laken Gullett earned her 1,000th career assist last season.
CREDIT: *Derrick Webb/SOSA*

12. Laken Gullett, Senior, Eastern

2024 statistics: 219 kills, 109 aces, 9 blocks, 261 digs, 377 assists

Eastern won a share of the SOC II title last year before reaching a district semifinal game. Gullett was at the center of that storm. The setter passed out 377 assists, including her 1,000th career helper, while adding 219 kills, 261 digs and an eye-popping 109 aces to her totals.

11. Natalie Ragan, Senior, North Adams

2024 statistics: 55 kills, 30 aces, 18 blocks, 171 digs, 799 assists

Every season, we think Ragan has reached her full potential and every year, she gets even better. While leading her Green Devils to a second consecutive SHAC title, she posted a career high 799 assists — putting her at 2,094 in total. The Devils are 37-2 in league play with Ragan.