VolleyballMag is pleased to introduce the 2024 Girls Fab 50 list, the longest-running national awards platform that honors the top 50 senior-age players in the country.
Because I have been invited to shape the Fab 50 as I see fit, it is part recruiting list and part achievement list. If you are a top recruit and your state’s high school Player of the Year, for instance, you’re part of the Fab 50. If you declined to play your senior year of high school, or were injured, then passed on club ball to enroll early at the university you signed with, you are not part of the Fab 50.
Everyone in between? Well, hard choices had to be made.
Most, but not everyone, in the 2024 Fab 50 is a top-100 recruit. If you were all-everything in high school and club, you might have made the Fab 50 over another player with yet-unrealized superstar potential at the next level.
The Fab 50 includes 19 pin hitters, 13 middles, 14 setters and four liberos. California and Texas lead the way with eight and seven selections, respectively, followed by North Carolina and Indiana with four apiece, and Illinois and Florida with three each. Six other states, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio, placed two each on the list. Traditional Midwest power states Wisconsin and Kentucky had just one apiece. Arizona, which has been a breeding ground for top talent the past 15 years, did not have any.
The players are listed with their last club, even if they enrolled early this year and skipped the club season. Triangle had the most Fab 50 picks with four. 1st Alliance and Colorado Juniors had three apiece. National champion Mater Dei of Santa Ana, California, had two Fab 50 selections.
Which college scored recruiting coups in this class? Florida inked five and Louisville signed three. Thirteen other schools signed two apiece, including Wisconsin, Penn State and USC, each of which landed one player in the national top five.
There is no consensus top player in this class. Indeed, anyone in the top listed below could have been No. 1. That’s how balanced this group is!
Here now are the top five, as voted on by my select panel:
1. Izzy Starck, 6-1 S/OH, Viera (Florida), Colorado Juniors, Penn State
2. Favor Anyanwu, 6-2 MB, Sachse (Texas), TAV, USC
3. Charlie Fuerbringer, 5-11 S, Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, California), Mizuno Long Beach, Wisconsin
4. Ayden Ames, 6-4 MB/OH, Prosper (Texas), Drive Nation, Texas
5. Morgan Gaerte, 6-4 OH, Angola (Indiana), Team Pineapple, Notre Dame
We also have 40 players to watch in the Class of 2025 and 15 each in the ’26 and ’27 classes. Most are likely to be Fab 50 when they are seniors. If you don’t know them now, trust me, you will eventually.
Name, Hgt., Pos., HS, Last club, College
Ayden Ames, 6-4 MB/OH, Prosper (Texas), Drive Nation, Texas
Elizabeth Andrew, 6-6 MB, Ridgefield (Washington), Athena, Stanford
Favor Anyanwu, 6-2 MB, Sachse (Texas), TAV, USC
Jaela Auguste, 6-2 MB, Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas), Houston Skyline, Florida
Hannah Benjamin, 6-2 OH/RS, Fidelis Christian (Cumming, Georgia), A5, Kentucky
Kendall Beshear, 6-0 OH, Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, California), SCVC, Cal Poly
Alex Bower, 5-10 S, Skyview (Nampa, Idaho), Idaho Crush, BYU
Zoey Burgess, 6-2 MB, Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), Club V, Kansas
Nayelis Cabello, 6-0 S/RS, East Ridge (Clermont, Florida), Top Select, Louisville
Kaia Caffee, 6-4 MB, Buffalo (Minnesota), MN Select, Ohio State
Paityn Chapman, 6-2 OH, Castle View (Castle Rock, Colorado), Colorado Juniors, Tennessee
Isabel Clark, 6-0 OH, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California), Mizuno Long Beach, San Diego
Maria Drapp, 5-9 S, Mercy McAuley (Cincinnati, Ohio), Tri-State, Bradley
Ava Falduto, 5-8 libero, IC Catholic Prep (Elmhurst, Illinois), 1st Alliance, Penn State
Charlie Fuerbringer, 5-11 S, Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, California), Mizuno Long Beach, Wisconsin
Morgan Gaerte, 6-4 OH, Angola (Indiana), Team Pineapple, Notre Dame
Jenna Hanes, 6-3 MB, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, California), WAVE, Michigan
Lauren Harden, 6-3 OH, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Indiana), The Academy, Florida
Alexis Haury, 5-10 S, Silverton (Oregon), NPJ, Washington
Kiarrah Horne, 6-1 OH, Millbrook (Raleigh, North Carolina), Triangle, UCLA
Julia Hunt, 6-2 MB, Holy Cross (Covington, Kentucky), NKYVC, Washington
Ryla Jones, 6-4 MB, Flint Hill (Oakton, Virginia). Metro of DC, Pittsburgh
Julia Kakkis, 6-0 S, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California), Momentous, Brown
Jaidyn Livings, 6-2 OH/RS, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), TAV, USC
Malayah Long, 6-0 S, Lincoln Southwest (Lincoln, Nebraska), VC Nebraska, Marquette
Olivia Mauch, 5-6 libero, Bennington (Nebraska), Premier Nebraska, Nebraska
Grace Nelson, 6-1 OH, Oak Park-River Forest (Oak Park, Illinois), 1st Alliance, Kansas
Taylor Parks, 5-11 S, Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Florida), OTVA Tampa, Florida
Payton Petersen, 5-11 OH, Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), Six Pack, Louisville
Ashlyn Philpot, 6-3 MB, DH Conley (Greenville, North Carolina), Triangle, Illinois
Skyler Pierce, 6-2 OH, Olathe Northwest (Olathe, Kansas), Dynasty, Nebraska
Lainee Pyles, 6-3 OH, Fossil Ridge (Fort Worth, Texas), Madfrog, LSU
Alec Rothe, 6-3 MB, Scioto (Dublin, Ohio), Elite, Florida
Lola Schumacher, 5-4 libero, Brebeuf Jesuit (Indianapolis, Indiana), Munciana, Wisconsin
Emerson Sellman, 6-4 OH, Academy of the Holy Cross (Kensington, Maryland), Metro of DC, Ohio State
Savannah Skopal, 6-0 S, Rouse (Leander, Texas), AJV, Rice
Laynie Smith, 6-4 OH, Chapel Hill (North Carolina), Triangle, Illinois
Izzy Starck, 6-1 S/OH, Viera (Florida), Colorado Juniors, Penn State
Stella Swenson, 6-1 S, Wayzata (Minnesota), MN Select, Minnesota
Asia Thigpen, 5-11 OH/libero, Green Level (Cary, North Carolina), Triangle, Kentucky
Ava Utterback, 6-0 OH, Plainfield (Indiana), Circle City, Louisville
Rachel Van Gorp, 5-9 OH, Heritage Christian Academy (Olathe, Kansas), KC Power, Iowa State
Ella Vogel, 5-8 libero, Chaparral (Parker, Colorado), Colorado Juniors, Florida
Lilly Wagner, 5-11 S, Oconomowoc (Wisconsin), Milwaukee Sting, Maryland
Brianna Watson, 6-1 OH, Flower Mound (Texas), Dallas Skyline, LSU
Ellie White, 5-11 S/OH, Mother McAuley (Chicago, Illinois), 1st Alliance, Michigan
Logan Wiley, 6-2 MB, Alpharetta (Georgia), A5, Georgia Tech
Taylor Williams, 6-1 OH, Saint Francis (Mountain View, California), Vision, Duke
Sophia Wolfson, 6-3 MB, Buckley (Sherman Oaks, California), San Gabriel Elite, Brown
Taylor Yu, 6-0 S/OH, Temple City (California). San Gabriel Elite, Stanford
Class of 2025
Hazel Alevok, 6-6 MB, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida), IMGVA, UCLA
Maya Baker, 5-9 S, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, California), Vision, Notre Dame
Mesaiya Bettis, 6-0 OH, Burnsville (Minnesota), Northern Lights, Iowa State
Anna Blamires, 6-2 RS, Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs, Colorado), Colorado Juniors, BYU
Mackenzie Collins, 6-1 MB, Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas), Houston Skyline
Samara Coleman, 6-0 OH, Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas), Houston Juniors, Pittsburgh
Suli Davis, 6-1 OH, Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas), TAV, BYU
Taylor Deckert, 5-8 libero, Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach), Surfside, USC
Kaci DeMaria, 6-4 OH, Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, California), Surfside
Chloe Elarton, 6-0 S, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colorado), Colorado Juniors, Georgia
Maya Evens, 5-8 libero, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, California), WAVE, Notre Dame
Megan Fitch, 6-1 OH, Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas), Alamo, Texas A&M
Campbell Flynn, 6-3 S, Mercy (Birmingham, Michigan), Legacy, Nebraska
Addison Gaido, 6-4 RS, Georgetown (Texas), Austin Skyline, Texas
Navea Gauthier, 6-2 OH, Shelby (Michigan), FaR Out, Ohio State
Charlotte Glass, 6-1 S, Saint Andrew’s (Boca Raton, Florida), Tribe, Duke
Asia Harvey, 6-0 OH, Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Georgia), 575 VBC, Missouri
Taylor Harvey, 6-3 MB, Bountiful (Utah), Club V, Texas
Addy Horner, 6-3 S/RS, St. Francis (Wheaton, Illinois), 1st Alliance, Wisconsin
Ryan Hunter, 6-2 RS, Mallard Creek (Charlotte, North Carolina), Triangle. Nebraska
Jaidyn Jager, 6-1 OH, La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, California), Coast
Kelly Kinney, 6-2 OH, King’s Academy (West Palm Beach, Florida), Tribe, Minnesota
Keri Leimbach, 5-5 libero, Lincoln Lutheran (Lincoln, Nebraska), Nebraska ONE, Nebraska
Quinn Loper, 6-2 OH, San Clemente (California), WAVE, USC
Mimi Mambu, 6-0 OH, Chantilly (Virginia), Metro of DC, Georgia Tech
Reese Messer, 5-11 S, St. James (Lenexa, Kansas), Dynasty, USC
Abigail Mullen, 6-2 RS, Liberty (Missouri), Dynasty, USC
Chichi Nnaji, 6-5 RS/MB, Ursuline Academy (Dallas, Texas), Dallas Skyline, Notre Dame
Kassie O’Brien, 6-1 S, Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas), Houston Skyline, Kentucky
Madison Quest, 6-3 OH, Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Milwaukee Sting, Wisconsin
Erika Sayer, 6-2 MB, Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colorado), Colorado Juniors
Teraya Sigler, 6-2 OH, Horizon (Scottsdale, Arizona), AZ Storm, Nebraska
Kristen Simon, 5-7 libero, Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky), KiVA, Wisconsin
Cari Spears, 6-3 OH, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), TAV, Texas
Jordan Taylor, 6-5 MB, Langham Creek (Houston, Texas), Houston Juniors, Minnesota
Abby Vander Wal, 6-3 OH, Timothy Christian (Elmhurst, Illinois), 1st Alliance, Texas
Charlotte Vinson, 6-2 OH, Yorktown (Indiana), Munciana, Indiana
Natalie Wardlow, 6-4 MB, Lincoln Southeast (Lincoln, Nebraska), Nebraska ONE, Wisconsin
Aniya Warren, 5-8 libero, Benet Academy (Lisle, Illinois), 1st Alliance, Indiana
Devyn Wiest, 6-2 OH, O’Connor (Phoenix, Arizona), AZ Storm, Utah
Class of 2026
Henley Anderson, 6-4 OH, Dripping Springs (Texas), Austin Skyline
Ella Andrews, 6-3 MB, Grosse Pointe South (Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan), Legacy
Bellamie Beuss, 5-11 OH, Skyview (Nampa, Idaho), Idaho Crush
Gabby DiVita, 6-2 OH, Grosse Pointe South (Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan), Legacy
Audrey Flanagan, 6-2 OH, Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, California), SCVC
Ella Grimes, 5-9 Libero, Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio), Elevation
Genevieve Harris, 5-11 S, Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, North Carolina), NC Academy
Sarah Hickman, 6-4 RS, Stratford (Houston, Texas), Houston Juniors
Isabelle Hoppe, 5-8 S, Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pennsylvania), Academy Volleyball Cleveland
Nadiya Johnson, 6-2 RS, North Point (Bennsville, Maryland), Metro of DC
Finn Krystkowiak, 6-4 OH, Torrey Pines (San Diego, California), WAVE
Kayla Nwaubeze, 6-2 MB, Bloomfield Hills (Michigan), Legacy
Halle Thompson, 6-0 OH, Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas), Houston Skyline
Ayanna Watson, 6-3 OH, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada), Vegas Aces
Keoni Williams, 6-4 MB, Boswell (Fort Worth, Texas), Dallas Skyline
Class of 2027
Malorie Boesiger, 5-10 S, Norris (Nebraska), Nebraska ONE
Lydia Chinchar, 6-1 RS, Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Florida), No Name
Carsyn Comer, 6-1 MB, Westfield (Indiana), Munciana
Olivia Henry, 6-4 OH, Fieldston (Bronx, New York), All-Star Empire
Marissa Jones, 6-1 S, Woodward Academy (College Park, Georgia), A5
Peyton Kubik, 6-1 OH, Blue Valley West (Overland Park, Kansas), Dynasty
Tessa Larkin, 6-0 OH, Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Arizona), AZ Storm
Nyla Livings, 6-3 MB, Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas), TAV
Kendall Omoruyi, 6-4 MB, Casteel (Gilbert, Arizona), AZ Storm
Sophee Petersen, 5-10 S, Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), TAV
Ireland Real, 6-4 OH, Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, California), WAVE
Brynn Stephens, 6-2 S/OH, Rock Hill (Frisco, Texas), TAV
Reagan Wallraff, 6-0 MB, Elkhorn North (Elkhorn, Nebraska), Premier Nebraska
Caroline Ward, 6-1 RS, Tri-West (Lizton, Indiana), Boilers Juniors
Shaye Witherspoon, 6-3 OH, Lafayette (Wildwood, Missouri), Rockwood Thunder
