KPs 2025 Excessive College Boys’ Volleyball Preview (Half 2 of three)

The 2025 boys’ highschool season must be thrilling. Many states are sanctioned and have a wealthy historical past of boys’ volleyball. Some states like Minnesota are simply turning into sanctioned, whereas states like Texas supply the game and are working diligently on getting boys’ volleyball sanctioned. First Level continues to push for highschool boys’ volleyball to develop. They’re elevating funds, consciousness and even internet hosting a match in Texas.

We reached out to all of the volleyball leaders in every state to make this text attainable. This preview wouldn’t be attainable with out all of the leaders submitting info. The leaders’ names are included with the state. Some states didn’t have the time to submit a write-up. In direction of the tip of Might Volleyball Journal will do recap of the 2025 season. Ensure to achieve out to kevinpratte6@gmail.com to have your state or area be highlighted. Within the recap article we are going to be sure to spotlight New York, Virginia, and Wisconsin that gives boys’ volleyball within the fall.

Over the following couple of days, we will probably be releasing our three half article. Good luck to all of the groups this season and we sit up for protecting the game this spring.

Illinois

(Kristopher Fiore & Gordan Redzic)

Illinois has over 250 highschool groups, with most positioned within the Chicagoland space. Yearly Illinois has 8 groups that qualify for the state match. Final yr’s qualifiers included Marist, Glenbard West, York, Loyola, Lyons, Wheaton St. Francis, and Lincoln-Approach West. Marist gained the state championship in straight units over York and must be favorites this yr as they return a majority of their beginning line-up.

High applications
1 – Marist
2 – Glenbard West
3 – Oak Park River Forest
4 – Downers Grove North
5 – Lincoln-Approach West

Gamers to observe:
S- Christian Teresi (Marist, Ohio State)

OH- Vince Spadoni (West Chicago, IPFW)

OPP- Jeremiah Aro (Sandburg, Princeton)

OH- Nathan Toth (Marist, MIT)

OH- Matt Muehlnickel (Lincoln-Approach East, Lindenwood)

OH – Leo Trespeces-Winck (Maine South, Northern Kentucky)

Noteworthy: The Lincoln-Approach East match in early Might hosts 24 of the highest Illinois and Indiana groups. The match has featured the final 6 Indiana state champions and 10 of the previous 11 Illinois state champions.

If you wish to be taught extra about Illinois prep volleyball go to our associates at Illinois Prep Volleyball

Indiana

(Ronda Low)

Indiana begins 2025 with probably the most boys’ volleyball groups in Indiana historical past.  The Hoosier state is about to compete in its first ever state sanctioned publish season; with over 140 colleges collaborating this spring in a single-class, winner takes all State Championship.  Whereas there’s a extensive mixture of veteran and first yr applications throughout the state, expertise in Indiana shouldn’t be missing!   Roncalli appears to say it’s fourth consecutive state title with Cathedral, Fishers, and Westfield vying to defeat the Royals. The variety of elite gamers all through the state ought to make for an thrilling and aggressive 2025.

High applications
1 – Roncalli
2 – Cathedral
3 – Fishers
4 – Westfield

5 – Franklin Neighborhood
6 – HSE

Gamers to observe: 
S — Nick Whitley (Cathedral)
OH — Eli Berger (Roncalli)
MB — Ryan Peterson (Cathedral)
OH — Carlo Huidsen (Westfield)
S – Matthew Dial (Roncalli)

DS – Mikey Millikan (Brebeuf)

MB – Chase Alyea (Franklin Neighborhood)

OH – Nate Fitzwater (Fishers)

Noteworthy:

 The season begins with a loaded Irish Invite match on March 22 – that includes three high 5 groups; amongst these will probably be a number of earlier state champion applications.  This match is at all times a great way to see a number of the high groups within the state begin their season. The 2025 season ends with the Midwest Battle of Fishers Excessive College that includes high groups from Indiana, Louisville, Chicago, and Cincinnati.  Within the first official IHSAA postseason, the winner of sectional 8 will probably be battle-tested with three high 5 groups within the nine-team sectional.

Quoteworthy: “In our inaugural yr as a sanctioned sport in Indiana, I’m excited to observe this season unfold.  The expansion of the game for the previous 31 years has led to this second and seeing so many faculties throughout the state take part has been unbelievable!  I’ve little doubt, with the expertise in our state, this will probably be one other top-notch, aggressive season for Indiana volleyball,” – Ronda Low.

Maryland:

(JJ Rathnam)

Montgomery County Maryland’s thirty fifth Boys Varsity Volleyball season is on the brink of begin on March 1st. Montgomery County has grown right into a hotbed of nationwide stage expertise sending high gamers to the Nationwide Workforce Growth Packages for Seaside and Indoor in addition to NCAA Division 1 applications like Ohio State, Penn State, UC Irvine, Lengthy Seaside, Loyola, USC, and Ball State to call a number of. This yr, we’ve already realized of commitments within the class of ’26 to USC, Cian Tenney – Winston Churchill HS, and Penn State, Isaiah Powell – Springbrook HS.  Notable commitments within the class of ’25 embody Andrew Lam (Winston Churchill HS) to Roberts Wesleyan College, Timothy OuYang (Thomas Wootton HS) to Belmont Abbey Faculty, and George Idowu (Paint Department HS) to Vassar Faculty. The listing of commitments from Montgomery County is destined to develop with the appearance of a number of new boys volleyball golf equipment within the space and with the county itself doubtlessly including Boys JV volleyball for the 2026 Spring season. A number of colleges will probably be consolidating the most effective boys from their coed applications onto their boys’ staff this season, together with Northwest HS, who gained the student championship final season

High Gamers:

• Isaiah Powell – Springbrook
• Cian Tenney – Winston Churchill
• Andrew Lam – Winston Churchill
• George Idowu – Paint Department
• Titus Lee – Northwest

Noteworthy:

Common Season match schedules will be discovered on https://www.countysports.zone/

Projected High 5 Common Season Matchups

The MCPS Boys’ Playoffs will happen on the next dates:
1st Spherical – Thursday, 5/1/25 (website of the upper seed)

Quarterfinals: Tuesday, 5/6/25 (website of upper seed)
Semifinals: Thursday, 5/8/25 (Website of upper seed)
Championship: Tuesday, 5/13/25 at Quince Orchard HS at 7pm

Massachusetts:

(Michael Scammon)

Whereas excessive college boys’ volleyball in Massachusetts (MA) shouldn’t be as strong in comparison with different components of the nation, it has seen regular development over the previous 10 years. With 144 excessive college boys’ applications throughout the Commonwealth and a rise in membership volleyball organizations, we’re beginning to see groups which were persistently dominant for the previous half decade proceed to exert themselves as premier applications within the state.

High applications
1 – Newton North
2 – Needham
3 – Natick
4 – Brookline
5 – Agawam 

Gamers to observe:
OH — Simon Vardeh (Newton North)
S — Department Barnes (Natick)
S — Alec Smagula (Brookline)
OH — Finnian Bell (Wayland)
OH — Justin Tejada (Higher Lowell Tech)

Noteworthy: Within the Division 1 panorama, the Bay State Convention will proceed to be the house of probably the most elite applications in Massachusetts. Arguably 4 of the most effective groups within the state (Newton North, Needham, Natick, Brookline) will battle it out in the identical convention. Returning champion Newton North appears to be the favourite behind sensational outdoors hitter Simon Vardeh. Needham, who gained three straight state titles (’21, ’22, ’23), earlier than shedding to Newton North within the finals final yr will probably be in search of some candy revenge. Outdoors of the Bay State Convention, search for groups similar to Lexington, Acton-Boxborough, St. John’s Prep and BC Excessive to make some noise. The Merrimack Valley Convention, at all times good for half a dozen play-off groups, ought to have some robust applications within the match similar to Chelmsford and Lowell.

In Division 2, for years Westfield and Agawam have been battling it out for supremacy. That modified final yr with the emergence of Wayland, who knocked off Agawam within the semifinals. Wayland then fought an amazing match earlier than shedding to Westfield in a 5-set thriller within the D2 state finals. Don’t be stunned seeing Wayland again there with junior outdoors hitter Finnian Bell main the cost. Whereas he doesn’t graduate till subsequent spring, Bell could also be the most effective pure hitter in Massachusetts. Regulate darkish horse Higher Lowell Tech and their 6’4 senior outdoors hitter Justin Tejada. Whereas not the largest staff within the state, Tejada is without doubt one of the few that may go swing for swing with Bell and Vardeh.

Quoteworthy: “It must be a enjoyable season right here in Massachusetts. There are a number of persistently robust applications which have discovered themselves in a little bit of a rebuild, so the attention-grabbing half will probably be what applications rise as much as take their place. There have additionally been some robust D2 groups shifting to D1 over the previous few years, in order that has created some new playoff dynamics for each divisions. When it comes to the place to search out the highest applications, the energy of the state positively lives nearer to Boston however one can find spectacular pockets out in western Massachusetts, close to Cape Cod, and up within the Merrimack Valley.” – Mike Scammon, North Andover 

Minnesota:

(Jenny Kilkelly)

High applications inaugural Minnesota Boys Excessive College Volleyball Spring Season may have over  85 colleges supporting Varsity and Junior Varsity groups.   Member colleges are principally positioned in Minneapolis – St. Paul Metro Space.  After eight difficult years advocating for sanction the Minnesota State Excessive College League authorized boys volleyball to be added to the Excessive College sport choices in Spring 2025.  For playoffs the 85+ colleges are divided into 8 sections.  Season ending part playoffs will decide the eight part champions that can compete for the MN State HS Boys Volleyball Championship Title on the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN.

2024 Rising Sport MN State Excessive College Champion, Shakopee HS, will probably be one of many contending applications once more in 2025.  Eastview, Eden Prairie, St. Michael-Albertville, Rochester Mayo are on the high of the “watch listing” to win a MN State Excessive College League State Championship. The St. Paul District colleges & South Suburban Convention are loaded with expertise and may have a number of the strongest competitions this spring.

Another high colleges within the state to observe:

Andover

Bemidji

Eagan

St.Paul Central, Harding, & Johnson

Spring Lake Park

High Gamers: 

S/Pin – Clayton Shonka (St.Michael – Albertville – 2025)

OH – Reed Johnson (Bemidji – 2025)

OH – Jackson Smith (Rochester – Mayo 2025)

RS/MB – Colin Nathan (Eastview – 2026)

MB – Tate Sorenson (Mounds View 2026)

OH/L – Soe Reh (Como Park – 2025)

L/DS – Max Yang (North St.Paul – 2025)

Quoteworthy: “The MN Boys Excessive College Volleyball Affiliation Founders, Administrators, and Committee members, all of the MN coaches/dad and mom/participant advocates, MN Excessive College Athletic Administrators & Directors fought for seven years for sanction approval from the MN State Excessive College League.  Throughout that point participation grew from 200 college students & 22 colleges to over 2300 college students & 81 colleges. Minnesota Excessive College Volleyball Sanctioning wouldn’t have come to fruition with out the imaginative and prescient and steerage from MN Boys HS Affiliation founders –  Walt Weaver and Hugh McCutcheon.  Particular noteworthy spotlight and because of the supporters within the MN State Excessive College League that bravely voted, a number of occasions, so as to add this a lot wanted sport to the sanctioned choices in our Minnesota excessive colleges.  The Minnesota Volleyball Neighborhood is extremely grateful,”  – Jenny Kilkelly – (President & Co-Director of MN Boys Excessive College Volleyball Affiliation)

 “I’m so excited in regards to the first official sanctioned season. We’ve got some nice returning gamers who have been enormous contributors to the State Championship Match towards Rogers Excessive College.  We’ve got some very athletic new rising stars to fill within the giant senior class that we graduated from this 2024 State Championship Workforce.  There are various gifted college applications and it must be a incredible excessive stage official first season right here in Minnesota,” – Krista Flemming (MN Boys Volleyball Coaches Affiliation President & Head Coach of Shakopee HS)

Missouri:

(Dr. Ken Corum)

Highschool boys’ volleyball in Missouri began in St. Louis within the Eighties.  In 1987, the Missouri Boys’ Volleyball Committee established the primary highschool boys’ state volleyball match composed fully of faculties from St. Louis.  The variety of collaborating colleges grew over time the place MSHSAA first acknowledged boys’ volleyball as an “rising sport” in 1996.

In 2019, boys’ highschool membership groups in Kansas Metropolis started to kind with the help of the native Coronary heart of America area of USA Volleyball sponsoring the Kansas Metropolis Excessive College Boys’ Volleyball League (KCHSBVL).

By 2023, eight colleges on the Missouri facet selected to raise their standing and be a part of MSHSAA.  That introduced boys’ volleyball over the beforehand talked about 50-school threshold in three geographic areas of the state to “provisionally interscholastic” standing, that means {that a} vote amongst these colleges would result in putting boys’ volleyball “absolutely interscholastic” standing, full with an official MSHSAA district and state match, for the 2023-24 college yr.  In April 2023, the vote handed with a 95.6% approval, so 2024 was the primary yr for absolutely interscholastic sanctioned boys’ volleyball in Missouri.

In 2025, there are actually 103 colleges statewide and 30 (up from 19 final yr) within the Kansas Metropolis space which have registered with MSHSAA to play boys’ volleyball for the 2025 season.  There are about a number of different colleges within the metro at the moment taking part in at membership standing, and the hope is that they are going to select to hitch MSHSAA quickly.  Columbia colleges have joined this yr and several other colleges within the Springfield space are additionally exhibiting curiosity in initiating applications.

 High applications in Kansas Metropolis:

1. St. Michael the Archangel
2. Rockhurst
3. Oak Park
4. Lee’s Summit North
5. Staley

Gamers to observe:

Will Campbell – Rockhurst

Quentin Huhman – Lee’s Summit North

Jonathan Koob – St. Michael

Henry Olson – Rockhurst

Sam Morgan – Lee’s Summit West

Ben Salanski – St. Michael

Will Strub – Oak Park

Aiden Cuellar – Staley

Maddox Dresslaer – Grain Valley

Noteworthy: With the rise in numbers of groups statewide, MSHSAA may have 16 district champions this yr as a substitute of 8.  The plan is to develop to 2 lessons in spring 2026.

Quoteworthy: “Boys’ volleyball is the quickest rising boys’ sport within the nation, and I’ll proud to say that Missouri is on board with sanctioning the game final yr.  Now we’re targeted on rising the variety of groups statewide and giving male student-athletes one other choice to signify their colleges, be taught classes, and acquire traits that interscholastic actions can present for them.”  Dr. Ken Corum – Head Coach, Staley Excessive College, Kansas Metropolis, MO

Nebraska

(Matthew Tweedy)

The boys’ volleyball group in Nebraska and surrounding areas has been rising with unbelievable dedication and pleasure as we enter our inaugural season! With 4 groups all through the Lincoln and Omaha space, we’re able to showcase the boys’s facet of the game the state of Nebraska has grown to like! We are able to’t wait to contribute to the expansion of boys’ volleyball expertise within the Midwest!

High applications:
1 – Lincoln
2 — Millard
3 – Omaha North
4 – Omaha South

Gamers to observe:
OH —  Josh Morgan
S — Mitch Meeske
DS — Brett Bousquet
MB — Jacob Hunter
L — Blake Burbach

Noteworthy: The boys’ groups will get to play at Nebraska’s largest conference middle throughout the season as a part of the first-ever Nebraska Males’s Volleyball Showcase which will probably be a collaboration of boys’ highschool and males’s school membership video games. This showcase will probably be open to the general public for volleyball followers to have the prospect to observe high-level males’s volleyball on show!

Quoteworthy:  “Governing membership volleyball applications in a state deemed as ‘The Volleyball State’, we’re lengthy overdue to see boys’ volleyball illustration in our Area. We’ve got a few membership applications in our Area who supply boys’ groups and do incredible on the nationwide stage: Excessive Flyers and River Metropolis. Constructing off that, this League is an effort to get boys’ volleyball sanctioned as a highschool sport in Nebraska. Our League is open to all talent ranges, offering alternative for newbie athletes to be taught and discover ardour for the game, and giving skilled athletes the chance to develop their talent below our top-notch coaches and develop management abilities. We’re excited to take part within the nationwide development of this superb sport!” – Lindsey Smith, Nice Plains Area Workplace.

“I’m excited to be a part of the primary season in Nebraska. It’s going to be enjoyable as a result of it’s a enjoyable but aggressive volleyball that I can play with my associates and classmates.  I’m excited to have volleyball that could be a quick journey away. “ – Levi Tweedy, Millard

New Mexico:

(Jenny Ross)

New Mexico is embracing the Boy’s Volleyball motion with extra colleges becoming a member of each season! Though not but sanctioned, we’re as much as 20 groups within the state. Sanctioning is true across the nook! For a state at first phases, the quantity of expertise is one thing to brag about! Our New Mexico boys have about 12 scholarship provides in complete as of proper now. Volcano Vista is anticipated to win state this yr with all returning gamers and ending high 3 because the starting of their program in (and a staff stuffed with membership gamers.) You may catch Volcano Vista this March competing within the First Level Nationwide Excessive College Invitational in Austin. Though not listed, East Mountain is a 3A college competing with the large 5A colleges, they at all times maintain their very own and are very able to making it into the highest 5! Cibola Excessive College can be anticipated to have a staff this yr (with membership gamers), forcing our groups to be pushed to the boundaries for the state title this spring.

High applications

1 – Volcano Vista

2 — Eldorado

3 – Hobbs

4 – La Cueva

5 – Sandia

Gamers to observe: 

Lib/OH/S – Tyler Lund (Volcano Vista)

OH/Setter – Jake Pier (Eldorado)

OH/MB – Estevan Perez (Volcano Vista)

OH/Setter – Soren Fritz (Cibola)

Setter/OPP – Joaquin Corrales (Cibola)

Noteworthy: Tyler Lund from Volcano Vista is a rising star. As an eighth grader final season, he was voted 1st Workforce All-State (solely eighth grader to ever make All-State), Captain and MVP of his staff. New Mexico may be very excited to observe this athlete for 4 extra years! Jake Pier is one other unbelievable athlete to maintain your eye on this season. Though a Setter, Jake can has a really heavy hand and might hit in addition to he units! Estevan Perez joins the celebration as energy hitter and high blocker bringing swag to the court docket in contrast to anybody else. All three of those gamers, who additionally made 1st Workforce All-State, come from E3VB’s membership program taking part in on the nationwide stage staff. All of them maintain at the very least one scholarship supply at the moment.

Quoteworthy: “As we develop the sport in New Mexico, we proceed to see a ton of development, not simply in numbers however in talent and expertise. The normal juggernauts like Volcano Vista, Hobbs, Sandia and El Dorado all look to be primed to compete for a title, however there are new applications popping out that would actually open some eyes. We are going to proceed to push for sanctioning and creating extra taking part in alternatives and publicity for our athletes. We’re keen to begin this 2025 season and might’t wait to play!” -Head Coach Rikki Garma, East Mountain. 

“We’ve got devoted coaches, athletes, households and organizations like First Level Basis that assist us get via all of the sanctioning obstacles as a group. It’s comforting to know we aren’t combating this struggle alone! Now time to struggle for the state title!” –Head Coach Jenny Ross, Volcano Vista.

“Within the land of Enchantment, Boys volleyball is lastly getting the popularity and publicity that it deserves, whether or not on the excessive college or Membership stage. For the reason that publicity to boys volleyball in Hobbs and all through NM, we’ve been capable of unlock a love, ardour and dedication for the sport with many various gamers. A love that not even the gamers would have considered. With each Serve, set and spike, we rise collectively to proceed to develop the game in NM!” –Head Coach Vicente Galindo, Hobbs.

Ohio:

(Sean Tierney)

Over 120 groups will probably be competing for a state title in two divisions in Ohio.  Each defending state champions from 2024; St. Xaiver (Division I) and Archbishop McNicholas (Division II) return as heavy favorites.  Ohio continues to see main development in boys’ volleyball after turning into sanctioned by the Ohio Excessive College Athletic Affiliation in 2023.

High applications

1 – St. Xavier

2 – Archbishop McNicholas

3 – St. Ignatius

4 – Hilliard Darby

5 – Thomas Worthington

Gamers to observe: 

Joe Taggart, OH, St. Xavier  (OSU commit)

Finn Rubin, MB, Thomas Worthington (Loyola Commit)

Jack Ragon, OH, St. Ignatius (OSU commit)

Grant Simer, OPP, Lakota East (NKU Commit)

Gavin Gerhard, OH, Archbishop McNicholas

Oklahoma:

(Brooke Halleran)

High Packages in Oklahoma:

1 — Casady College (Oklahoma Metropolis)

2 – – Storm (Oklahoma Metropolis)

3 – – Jenks Excessive College (Tulsa)

4 – – Southwest Oklahoma Metropolis Trident (Oklahoma Metropolis)

5 — Edmond-North Excessive College / Mustang (Oklahoma Metropolis)

6 — Damaged Arrow Excessive College (Damaged Arrow)

Gamers to observe:

S – Jonah Landis ‘26 (Casady College)

OH – Evan Halleran ‘26 (Casady College)

S – Hudson Headrick ‘26 (Jenks Excessive College)

OH – Darrell Kosechequetah ‘25 (SWOKC Trident)

L – Christian Cordero ‘25 (Edmond-North /

Mustang)

Noteworthy: Boys highschool volleyball has been rewarded for shifting its season to the Spring in Oklahoma.  With the assist of the Oklahoma Boys Volleyball Affiliation (OKBVA) there was exponential development that ought to finally result in boys volleyball turning into a sanctioned sport by the Oklahoma Secondary colleges Actions Affiliation (OSSAA).  The game has grown from two highschool groups in 2020 to sixteen groups in 2024 and now at the very least twenty-seven groups collaborating within the 2025 OKBVA league.  The Oklahoma State match on Might 9-10 will probably be a showcase of the excessive stage of expertise within the Sooner State and Oklahoma’s personal Jenks Excessive College will probably be competing within the First Level Nationwide Excessive College Invitational.  Of notice, 5 applications performed inaugural seasons in 2024: Dove Science Academy, Enid, Owasso, Southwest OKC-Trident and Wolfpack whereas 2025 will see notable newcomers together with Tulsa McClain, Moore Excessive College, Sante Fe – South, OK College for the Deaf and Shawnee Excessive College.

Quoteworthy: “In 4 quick years, the state has seen growth from only a few groups in 2020 to almost 30 groups from everywhere in the State in two divisions – varsity and junior varsity.  OKBVA anticipates a continued enhance in participation because it seeks sanctioning by the Oklahoma Secondary Colleges Athletic Affiliation  (OSSAA).” –Jay Gallegly, Vice President of Oklahoma Boys Volleyball Affiliation

Kevin Pratte has enthusiastically been concerned in volleyball for over 23 years. Pratte began taking part in in center college and was lucky sufficient to play NCAA Division 1 volleyball at The College of the Pacific. After his taking part in profession Pratte obtained concerned in teaching volleyball. In 2009 Pratte was the graduate assistant coach for the College of Nebraska girls’s volleyball program. Later in his profession Pratte made teaching stops at College of the Pacific, a number of group faculties and coached at WAVE Volleyball Membership for seven years. At the moment Pratte is a bodily schooling instructor within the San Diego Unified College District, San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary member, a school volleyball recruiting coordinator, hosts a volleyball podcast present, the proprietor of the Center Hitter web site and runs a non-profit group to assist increase funds to present boys’ highschool volleyball college students scholarships to play membership volleyball. He’s excited to proceed writing for Volleyball Journal and is raring to cowl the sport.

Basis web site: www.kevinprattefoundation.com

Center Hitter Web site: www.middlehitter.com

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