The 2026 high school girls volleyball regular season is nearing a conclusion and players are rounding into form with the postseason set to begin during the second-to-last week of October.
League races are heating up across the Akron area.
Metro Athletic Conference leader Norton is undefeated with an experienced senior class and primed to make a run in the Division IV tournament.
Wadsworth remains atop the Suburban League National Conference with new leaders and is a candidate to advance in the Division II tournament.
Mogadore is not affiliated with a conference and has its sights set on making a run in the Division VII tournament.
Here is a look at 15 volleyball players to watch in Greater Akron, with team's win-loss records as of Oct. 10.
Lillian Flohr, Norton
Flohr is having an impressive senior season after being named the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association District 3 Player of the Year in Division IV last season. She is part of Norton's strong senior class that includes Alivia Goff, Haley Sanderson, Ava Bethel and Jenna Ford, and has the undefeated Panthers (19-0, 14-0) atop the Metro Athletic Conference standings.
Addison Lefeld, Nordonia
Lefeld is a go-to-senior for Nordonia (15-4, 12-2), which finished second in the Suburban League American Conference behind Aurora. She earned OHSVCA first-team honors last season in Division II, and has stepped her game up after the graduation of Rylee Kinnell (George Mason) and Mariah Moss (Concord).
Quinn Macko, Wadsworth
Macko has stepped into a larger role this season as a junior after Wadsworth graduated its three best players — Lauren Decker (Robert Morris), Rowan Kelly (Ohio) and Lilly McComas — from a Division II regional final team. Macko helped Wadsworth (20-2, 13-1) win the Suburban League National Conference championship in 2026.
Mackenzie McCullough, Stow
McCullough, a senior, earned OHSVCA first-team honors last season in Division I and is headed toward that recognition again this season as Stow (12-7, 9-5) competes in the Suburban League National Conference.
Emma Butler, Mogadore
Butler is having a strong junior season with Mogadore gearing up for the Division VII tournament after finishing the regular season with a 17-5 record. She earned OHSVCA first-team honors last season in Division VI.
Eleanor Kenney, Hudson
Kenney has burst onto the scene as a talented freshman and key player in the lineup for Hudson (9-13, 5-9), which concludes play in the Suburban League National Conference and prepares for the Division II tournament.
Samantha Ross, Highland
Ross is enjoying a standout sophomore season as Highland (14-6, 12-2) successfully moved into the Suburban League National Conference and preps for the Division III tournament. Her play helped Highland win after Carley Niese, Ava Andrews and Kamryn Heldreth (Ashland) graduated.
Sydney Pesut, Walsh Jesuit
Pesut, a senior, earned OHSVCA second-team honors last season in Division II and continues to be a vital part to success for Walsh (13-7).
Hope Sherman, Archbishop Hoban
Sherman has stepped into a larger role this season as a junior after Hoban graduated its four best players — Macie Mintz, Madison Mintz, Samantha Dehrmann and Kathleen Jones — from a Division III state semifinal final team. Hoban is 7-10 as it preps for the Division II tournament.
Kaitlyn Clester, Mogadore
Clester is a senior leader for Mogadore (17-5), a team ready to make a run in the Division VII tournament. She earned OHSVCA first-team honors last season in Division VI.
Mariah Howell, CVCA
Howell received an OHSVCA honorable mention last season in Division III and is a key senior for CVCA (9-10).
Kameron Chapman, Wadsworth
Chapman is a senior leader for Wadsworth as it sets its sights on a run in the Division II tournament. She helped Wadsworth (20-2, 13-1) win the Suburban League National Conference championship.
Anna Popovic, Twinsburg
Popovic received an OHSVCA honorable mention last season in Division II and is a senior leader this season for Twinsburg (13-6, 9-5) as it navigates a Suburban League American Conference schedule. Her presence helped the Tigers win after Taylor Pucky (Edinboro), Kelsey Williams (Malone) and Christina Williams (Talladega) graduated.
Eva Arnold, Tallmadge
Arnold, a junior, earned OHSVCA second-team honors last season in Division III and has Tallmadge (15-4, 12-2) near the top of the Metro Athletic Conference this season.
Emily Darr, CVCA
Darr is a senior leader for CVCA, helping fill the void left by her sister, Kaylee Darr, who graduated and is a freshman player at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Emily is set to join Kaylee with the Cougars next year.
Others considered: Averie Shell, Wadsworth; Chloe Patterson, Hoban; Alaina Weingart, Highland; Rylan Acton, Walsh Jesuit; Maribeth Slater, Hudson; Ava Teixeira, Copley; Jayli Owens, Copley; Lani Slater, Hudson; Ellesyn Ketcham, Hoban; Chase Little, Twinsburg; Gianna Tripp, Hudson; Hsa Dah of St. Vincent-St. Mary; Bryce Matlock of Twinsburg; Maddie Milicia, Revere; Emma Ross, Manchester
Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio high school girls volleyball, Top 15 Akron-area players in 2026