Hillsborough County has always dominant in volleyball. After all, Berkeley Prep, Tampa Prep and Plant have won a combined 42 state titles. Once again, there are plenty of title contenders. How do they rank to start the season? Find out below. 

1. Tampa Prep

After going 24-7 and advancing to the region final last season, the Terrapins are poised to make an even deeper playoff run given how much returning talent they have on the roster. Nearly everyone is back, including Olivia Hart (317 kills, 315 digs), Rylee Johnson (340 kills, 211 digs), Autumn Martinez-Robinson (480 digs), Maya Van Heyst (636 assists, 199 digs, 146 kills) and Ivana Zujovic (128 kills, 41 blocks). Tampa Prep, though, will not be at full strength until late September when Hart returns from an injury she suffered in club volleyball. 

2. Academy of the Holy Names

The Jaguars have been to the state semifinals three straight seasons. The last two losses each came against the eventual champion in their classification. This season, Academy of the Holy Names is hoping to end years of frustration by taking the next step and reaching the final. The talent is there to make it happen. The Jaguars have a loaded lineup that includes Caroline Arnold (348 assists, 101 digs), Michaela Clayton (244 digs, 241 kills), Heidi Crouse (61 kills, 49 digs), Lauren D’Onofrio (414 digs), Campbell Halme (174 kills), Lily Hayes (225 kills, 214 digs), Camille McClenson (201 kills) and Kinsley Warbritton (86 kills, 62 digs).

3. Plant

The Panthers put it all together when it mattered most last season, winning five straight matches as a district runnerup to take home the 7A state title. Now comes the hard part. Three key starters – Reese Friar, Lily Frierson and Sophia Kotsovolos – all graduated. To make up for the losses, Plant will count even more on Florida commit Bella Lee (164 digs), as well as Maggie Dostic (272 digs, 251 kills), Quinn Morrissey (82 assists) and Jennifer Rayburn (680 assists, 168 digs). 

4. Berkeley Prep

Brad Jergensen, who was hired to take over the program this offseason, had to do some retooling after losing five seniors now playing collegiately, including Bre McDonough, Olivia Rabinowitz and Ava Swain. A good portion of the returners played on the Buccaneers’ beach team that took third at the state. The leaders this year include Emery Fertic (29 kills), Hannah Hankerson (152 digs), Bailey Higgins (298 kills, 223 digs), Jackie Hochberg (84 digs) and Kiara Orbegoso (161 digs). 

5. Steinbrenner

New coach Jennifer Meyer inherits a playoff-experience squad that knocked off defending state champion Plant in the district before losing to the Panthers in the postseason rematch. Top returners include Kennedy Coakley (181 kills, 142 digs) and Izzy Mogridge (311 assists, 94 digs), And others will have more prominent roles such Anna Adcock, Connore Siler-Nixon.and Shea Swain. 

6. Carrollwood Day

The Patriots, who were 14-13 last season, lost three of their top players to graduation – Jessie Golden, Laney Higgins and Jasmine Welton. Still, Carrollwood Day will be formidable thanks to the addition of Naomi Chinchar, who transferred from Bishop McLaughlin. Last week, the Patriots swept defending state champion Calvary Christian in a preseason match. Naomi had 27 assists and two blocks. Her younger sister Lydia, an eighth grader, finished with 27 kills and five blocks. 

7. Sickles

The Gryphons finished 16-11 playing in a brutally tough 7A region that included Plant and Steinbrenner. There is plenty of optimism for improvement, especially since four of the top eight players in the rotation last year were either sophomores or juniors. The top returners include Tatum Pope (612 assists, 117 digs) and Gwen Tippen (114 kills). 

8. Robinson

Last year’s 10-17 record was misleading. The Knights had a young team and took some lumps playing a challenging early season schedule. The result was a 4-14 start. Robinson finished strong, winning six of its final nine matches to take home a district title and advance to the region semifinals. Expect continued improvement with a veteran team, led by Katejion Robinson (142 kills, 103 blocks) and Madison Williams (100 assists).   

9. Wharton

The Wildcats, who finished 16-8 last season, lost eight eight players to graduation, including Bella Bonatakis, Gabrielle Frye and Kylie Lauderdale. They did get a boost with the addition of Mia Saavedra (294 assists, 225 digs, 129 kills), who transferred from Tampa Bay HEAT. She will team with Paige Boyd (61 kills, 37 blocks), Danielle Galfond (211 assists) and Ja’Niya Lamar (116 kills) to form a solid nucleus. 

10. Newsome

The Wolves are doing some rebuilding after losing seven seniors from last year’s team that went 19-8 and advanced to the region quarterfinals. Fortunately, Newsome does return its MVP, Kaley Kugler, who had 170 kills and 134 digs a year ago. 

11. Strawberry Crest

Last season, the Chargers posted their first winning record since 2018, going 13-8. Three key starters – Alexandria Friebolin, Emma Futch and Lillian Lee – graduated. The top returner is Savannah Schwarz, who had 134 kills last season. 

12. Hillsborough

After starting 4-8 last season, the Terriers won five of the last six matches. The lone loss in that stretch came against Wharton in the district semifinal. That momentum should continue with some veteran returners, led by Lucy Pellenbarg. 

13. Bloomingdale

The Bulls were solid last season, going 13-8 and advancing to the district final. They have the potential to be even better this year, especially with the return of Elaina Fischer (61 kills, 35 blocks), Paula Lebron (228 assists, 56 digs) and Madison Sofarelli (93 kills, 29 blocks).  

14. Riverview 

The Sharks went 16-4 last season. It was the program’s highest win total in a season since 2012. Five players graduated, including Brooke Arnold and Hannah Bowers. Riverview also lost Reagan McConomy, whose family moved to Orlando. The top returning player is Pamela DeJesus-Trejedor (133 kills, 68 digs). Others who will contribute include Angela West (65 kills, 38 blocks) and Malaika Guttoh (107 kills, 46 digs).  

15. Tampa Catholic

The Crusaders (13-11 last season) should be strong at the net and defensively with the return of Lilly Fults (114 kills), Joelynne Lewis (184 digs) and Charlotte Thompson (110 kills).