Volleyball players from Baldwin County were honored with national recognition as the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced preseason watch lists and MaxPreps revisited the best players and teams in each state as well as compiled preseason All-American teams.

Altogether, 11 local athletes were named to preseason watch lists by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and 12 volleyball players from Baldwin County were recognized by the Alabama High School Volleyball Coaches Association (AHSVCA) on its preseason watch list.

National recognitions pile up for Robbins

Bayside Academy senior and Montevallo commit Blakeley Robbins (6’ setter) was honored on a national scale by both coaches associations as well as MaxPreps.

MaxPreps chose Robbins, last year’s state tournament MVP, as the best player in Alabama as well as placed her on the preseason All-American first-team. The Admirals were also honored as the best team in the state after they captured their 21st consecutive state championship which extended their own national record.

That wasn’t the only national recognition bestowed on Robbins as she was also named to the AVCA All-American Watch List. She was joined on the list by Gulf Shores senior Dianna Moore, a 5’ 4” right side hitter that helped the Dolphins earn wins over Fort Payne, Orange Beach and Auburn at the Juanita Boddie Tournament in Hoover last weekend.

AVCA Phenom Watch List includes 9 familiar faces

Five of Moore’s teammates from Gulf Shores, one Robbins’ from Bayside Academy and three Spanish Fort Toros were also recognized by the AVCA with spots on the Phenom Watch List.

This year’s Phenoms come from the Classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027 and have all previously been recognized on the regional or state level. They will also be invited to participate in the AVCA’s Phenom College Preparatory Program.

Gulf Shores was represented by Kallyn McComb (5’ 7” libero), Macey Moore (5’ 9” setter), Nicole Savage (5’ 6” setter), Sofiia Sobol (5’ 8” outside hitter) and Davis Stephenson (5’ 5” setter), Spanish Fort’s Delaney Clough (5’ 7” libero), Taylor Ishmael (5’ 10” right side hitter) and Lydia McAllister (5’ 9” right side hitter) also made the list alongside Haley Robinson (6’ 3” right side hitter) from Bayside Academy.

12 Baldwin County athletes named to AHSVCA Watch List

Four Baldwin County schools had three athletes each named to the list that featured 100 of the top players across the state according to its head coaches.

From Class 4A, the Orange Beach Makos were represented by seniors Amelia Edgeworth (5’ 11” outside hitter) and Ensley Keel (5’ 6” setter) as well as sophomore Ava Hodo (5’ 7” libero). Similarly, the St. Michael Catholic Cardinals’ trio included seniors Bryanna Marks-Craig (5’ 4” libero) and Katie-Ruth Rudd (5’ 8” outside hitter and libero) as well as junior Lina Ramos (5’ 7” middle block and setter).

On the Class 7A stage, sophomore sensations Anna Grace Chason (5’ 10” right side hitter and setter), Charlotte Mekkers (6’ middle block) and Ella Lomax (5’ 9” outside hitter) represented the Daphne Trojans on the statewide list. Gulf Coast Media readers recently selected Lomax as the first winner of the Seacrest Furniture Athlete of the Week.

Returning from the 2022 state title run in Class 6A and earning spots on the AHSVCA Preseason Watch List for the Bayside Academy Admirals included Robbins and Robinson as well as senior Maysie Douglas (5’ 9” outside hitter).