VOTE for the Lafayette area preseason girls volleyball POTY, sponsored by Ivy Tech

Who is the top returning volleyball player to the Lafayette area in 2026? Now that we've run down this list of some of the top returners this season, you can cast your vote in the preseason Player of the Year poll, sponsored by Ivy Tech. Listed below in alphabetical order are 16 options for this year's crop. This poll has unlimited voting and will close at 11:59 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 29. More: Vote for Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week from Aug. 17-23, sponsored by Ivy Tech Maddie Minnear, Benton Central, setter, senior Minnear recorded 680 assists, 143 digs and 67 aces for the 27-6 Bison last season. McKenna Yadon, Benton Central, outside hitter, senior Was voted first team all-state and a 1A/2A junior all-star last season after playing a pivotal role in the Bison capturing 2A sectional, regional and semi-state titles. She tallied 247 kills, .323 hitting percentage, 47% kill rate and 120 serve receives. Lauren Johnson, Central Catholic, outside hitter, senior Led the Knights with 242 kills, .139 hitting percentage, 30.3% kill rate and 198 digs in 2025. Cambell Carter, Clinton Prairie, libero, senior Carter is coming off a year recording 402 digs with 49 assists, 494 serve receptions, 97% serving percentage and was voted to all-conference and all-county teams. Kelsey Olehy, Faith Christian, setter, senior Olehy recorded 584 assists, 159 digs and 66 aces for the Eagles last season. Lily Rockhold, Frankfort, outside hitter, senior Rockhold was the kills leader for the Hot Dogs, who finished 23-8 last season. She earned her 1,000th career kill, finishing the year with 463 kills, .313 hitting percentage, 252 digs and 71 aces. Was voted first team Monon all-conference.  Gia Stokes, Harrison, outside hitter, sophomore Stokes was integral to the Raiders’ sectional title run, finishing second on the team in kills with 266. She tallied a .203 hitting percentage, 39.6% kill rate, 227 digs and 333 serve receives. Blaire Wellman, Rossville, outside hitter, sophomore Wellman had a standout freshman year, leading her team with 326 kills, .253 hitting percentage, 41.6% kill rate and 187 serve receives. Was voted to the Hoosier Heartland all-conference team and played a big role in Rossville capturing its first IHSAA regional title in program history in 2025. Tori Fadness, Rossville, setter, senior Totaled 821 assists, 237 digs, 73 aces and 27 blocks and 58 kills for the 31-4 Hornets in 2025. Claire Peacock, Southmont, setter, senior Peacock transferred from Crawfordsville to Southmont for this season. She tallied 732 assists, 127 kills, .527 hitting percentage, 59.6% kill rate, 271 digs and 73 aces for the Athenians in 2025. Ella Barry, Southmont, outside hitter, junior Berry racked up 322 kills, .367 hitting percentage, 49% kill rate, 271 digs and 56 aces for the Mounties as a sophomore. Jorja Timm, Twin Lakes, outside hitter, senior Finished 2025 with 300 kills, .158 hitting percentage, 35.8% kill rate, 42 aces, 191 digs and 181 serve receives. More: VOTE for the Journal & Courier Football Player of the Week, sponsored by Ivy Tech Briley Iseminger, South Newton, libero, senior Was voted to the IHSVCA 1A state second team playing in the back row for the repeating 1A regional champion Rebels. She finished with 480 digs and 573 serve receives. Jada Cripe, South Newton, outside hitter, junior Finished her sophomore season with 444 kills, .292 hitting percentage, 43.8% kill rate, 289 digs and 458 serve receives. Lindsey Lowe, South Newton, setter, senior As an important facilitator for the South Newton offense in 2025, Lowe recorded 889 assists, 218 digs and 70 aces. Sophie Andrew, West Lafayette, opposite, senior Andrew notched 204 kills, .274 hitting percentage, 39.9% kill rate and 49 blocks to help the Red Devils capture the IHSAA class 3A sectional title for a second consecutive year.