Aug. 13—Football isn't the only high school season that's getting closer. Volleyball is gearing up to start next week as well, and several teams are looking to either replicate the success they had last year or do even better.
Here are 10 star players to watch this year:
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Haniyah Standridge, West Morgan junior
Few players burst onto the scene quite like Standridge did last season. The 2025 Decatur Daily Player of the Year had a monster sophomore year with 723 kills, 335 digs, 53 aces and 35 blocks while helping to lead the Rebels to the Class 4A state tournament.
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Maggie Jae Marsh, Austin senior
Austin is coming off its best season in more than two decades as the Black Bears finished 45-9 and advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 2004, advancing all the way to the semifinals. Marsh was a do-it-all player for the Black Bears in helping them achieve that success, finishing with 1,174 assists, 380 digs, 195 kills, 82 aces and 56 blocks.
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Brenna McReath, Hartselle senior
Hartselle is looking to get back to the state tournament after missing out last season, and McReath could help the Tigers get there. She had 520 kills, 395 digs, 112 aces and 63 blocks last year in a stellar junior season.
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Kalyn Jones, Lindsay Lane senior
There have been a lot of changes for Lindsay Lane going into this season. The Lions are now a part of the new private-school Class A division following the AHSAA's split of public and private schools. Jones, who had 654 kills, 333 digs, 102 aces and 20 blocks last year, will play a big part in helping her team navigate the new waters.
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Alley Emerson, Brewer junior
Brewer has a new head coach this year in Jessie Henley and Henley will need Emerson to be as good of a defensive star as she was last season when she had 802 digs and 40 aces.
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Lara Anne Norwood, Lawrence County junior
Longtime Lawrence County head coach Robyn Hutto always seems to have a key star player and Norwood blossomed into one last year as a sophomore with 482 digs, 312 kills and 51 aces.
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Emma-Glenn Roby, Decatur senior
Roby had 381 kills, 321 digs and 43 aces for the Red Raiders last year and will be a key piece this season as they try to earn that elusive first state tournament berth since 2002.
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McKenzie Doner, Elkmont senior
Doner finished last season with 374 digs, 283 kills and 72 aces as she helped the Red Devils reach the state tournament for the first time since 2008.
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Josi Langlois, Priceville junior
Langlois had a solid year last season with 336 digs, 305 kills and 59 aces. She'll be expected to have a bigger year this year for new head coach Katy Hudson as she looks to fill the shoes left by her older sister Abby Langlois, who followed previous head coach Emily Williams to Wallace State.
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Macey Austin, East Lawrence senior
Austin had 428 digs, 333 kills and 48 aces last year and is looking to replicate that success for new head coach Savannah Kimbrell.
— caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2