Top 30 Delaware high school volleyball players: The final ranking
brandon holveck, delaware news journal
·2 min read
Downstate volleyball programs continued to make their presence felt in 2023.
When No. 2 Smyrna and No. 3 Caesar Rodney met in the semifinals at the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center, the state tournament was assured of having its first ever downstate finalist. The Eagles then took things a step further, defeating Ursuline 3-1 for the state title.
In three of the last four years, a downstate player has ranked No. 1 in our season-closing rankings. This year, it's state Player of the Year Anna Richardson, who led Smyrna with more than 300 kills. Although Richardson played well throughout the state tournament, the Eagles' championship game plan hinged on getting other players involved.
That's reflected in this list too. Smyrna has four players on the list — Richardson, Eliza Schneider, Elise Carter and Carly Timblin — tied with Saint Mark's for the most.
Some turnover should be expected next season. Out of the top 15, only five players are underclassmen.
With input from some of the state’s top coaches, here is our final ranking of the best 30 players in Delaware high school girls volleyball for the 2023 season in descending order.
30. Grace Burns, sr., Ursuline
Ursuline Academy senior Grace Burns (11) digs for the return against Smyrna during the DIAA Girls Volleyball Tournament championship game at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Smyrna won 3-1.
29. Kaitlyn Leberstien, so., Padua
Padua's Kaitlyn Leberstien digs in the Spartans' 3-0 win at St. Mark's, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022.
28. Eleanor Dealy, sr., Wilmington Friends
27. Jaslyn Dawkins, so., Appoquinimink
26. Carly Timblin, sr., Smyrna
Smyrna's (from left) Karalyn Osborne, Carly Timblin, Mia Schultz and Skylar Berge react to winning a point in the third game of Smyrna's 3-0 sweep of St. Mark's, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. The 25-17, 25-17, 26-24 win for Smyrna marked the first time St. Mark's had lost since the 2019 state final.
25. Sara Shuts, sr., Newark Charter
24. Kayla Riley, so., St. Georges
St. Georges sophomore Kayla Riley (7) hits the ball against Delaware Military Academy during the first-round match of the DIAA Girls Volleyball Tournament at the St. Georges near Middletown, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. St. Georges won 3-2.
23. Madelyn Way, so., Saint Mark's
Saint Mark's Madelyn Way sets in the third set of the Spartans' 3-2 win at Smyrna, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.
22. Elise Carter, sr., Smyrna
Smyrna senior Elise Carter (2) jumps to spike the ball against Ursuline Academy sophomore Hayley Timmons (20) during the DIAA Girls Volleyball Tournament championship game at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Smyrna won 3-1.
21. Lauren Mehelas, jr., Saint Mark's
Saint Mark's Lauren Mehelas returns to the bench between points in the fourth set of the Spartans' 3-2 win at Smyrna, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.
20. Ami Plymyer, sr., Dickinson
Dickinson's Ami Plymyer earned second team All-State honors in 2023.
19. Shayla Howell, jr., St. Georges
St. Georges junior Shayla Howell (25) and senior Amiya Mills (10) jump to block a shot against Delaware Military Academy during the first-round match of the DIAA Girls Volleyball Tournament at the St. Georges gym near Middletown, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. St. Georges won 3-2.
18. Miranda Ting, sr., Charter of Wilmington
17. Lydia Spencer, jr., Tower Hill
Tower Hill's Lydia Spencer (left) drives against Archmere's Cecilia Connolly (center) and Daphne Addo in the final set of Tower Hill's 3-1 win, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at Tower Hill School.
16. Seraphina Pabian, so., Charter of Wilmington
15. Katherine Kuehl, sr., Archmere
Archmere's Katherine Kuehl (35) celebrates a point with teammates Ella Strohmaier (17) and Daphne Addo in the first set of Archmere's 3-0 win at Ursuline, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.
14. Melissa Eddy, sr., Caesar Rodney
Caesar Rodney, including Melissa Eddy (center) celebrate a point in the first set of the Riders' 3-1 win at Middletown, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023.
13. Kate Hines, jr., DMA
Delaware Military Academy junior Kate Hines (24) digs to return the ball against St. Georges during the first-round match of the DIAA Girls Volleyball Tournament at the St. Georges gym, near Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. St. Georges won 3-2.
12. Ava Borcky, sr., Saint Mark's
Saint Mark's Ava Borcky digs in the fifth set of the Spartans' 3-2 win at Smyrna, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.
11. Kennedy Pavlekovich, so., Newark Charter
10. Claire Kelly, jr., Ursuline
9. Eliza Schneider, sr., Smyrna
Smyrna senior Eliza Schneider (12) spikes the ball as Ursuline Academy juniors Caitlyn McGonigal (5) and Claire Kelly (12) jump to block during the DIAA Girls Volleyball Tournament championship game at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Smyrna won 3-1.
8. Alexis Parkinson, sr., Appoquinimink
7. Cecilia Connolly, sr., Archmere
Archmere's Cecilia Connolly lets out a yell as the Auks win a point in the third set of Archmere's 3-0 win at Ursuline, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.
6. Molly Pietlock, sr., Tower Hill
Tower Hill's Molly Pietlock reaches to keep the ball alive in the second set of Tower's 3-0 win, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 at Friends.
5. C.C. DeCaro, jr., Ursuline
Ursuline Academy junior Cecelia (C.C.) DeCaro (19) hits the ball over the net as Smyrna senior Elise Carter (2) jumps for the block during the DIAA Girls Volleyball Tournament championship game at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Smyrna won 3-1.
4. Meghan Mumford, sr., Tower Hill
Tower Hill's (from left) Lily Leung, Meghan Mumford, Molly Pietlock, Tessa Mullins and Margaret Newswanger celebrate a point in the second set of Tower's 3-0 win, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 at Wilmington Friends.
3. Taylor Holly, sr., Saint Mark's
Saint Mark's Taylor Holly reacts in the third set of the Spartans' 3-2 win at Smyrna, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.
2. Elaina Millaway, jr., Delmarva Christian
Delmarva Christian’s Elaina Millaway receives a serve during Delmarva Christian’s 2-0 win over Caravel in the third-place game at the Bob Carpenter Center in last year's state championship tournament.
1. Anna Richardson, sr., Smyrna
Smyrna senior Anna Richardson (10) dives for the save against Ursuline Academy during the DIAA Girls Volleyball Tournament championship game at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Smyrna won 25-14.
