Syracuse, N.Y. — The 2025 All-Central New York OHSL girls volleyball team features 18 players chosen by syracuse.com reporters.
The finalists for player of the year are Maddy Foy of Marcellus, Megan House of Weedsport, Sophia Johnson of Westhill and Alyssa Wardell of Cazenovia.
The winner will be revealed at syracuse.com‘s | The Post Standard’s annual All-CNY Sports Awards presented by Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists. The show is set for June 23, 2026, inside the Liverpool High School Auditorium. More details can be found here.
Here are the 2025 All-CNY OHSL girls volleyball all-stars.
Riley Abernethy
School: Bishop Ludden‑Grimes
Class: Junior
Position: Middle blocker
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? Basketball in the winter and track and field in the spring.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration is definitely my grandfather. He’s 84 and always makes sure to go to almost all of my games, no matter how far away they are, and whenever I look into the stands, he’s always smiling at me and cheering me on, no matter how the game is going. After every game, I get a big hug from him. I always make sure that I play every game to my best for him.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory this season is when we beat J-D in our first game. It was a very emotional game for me because it was my first at my new school with my new team, and winning it in five sets was so fun and very rewarding. My coach, Tuck from Grimes, showed up for us to watch and that was very important to see him there too and made it an even better memory.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Teleportation so I could be able to go anywhere I want, whenever I want.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I would probably want to trade places with Wemby because I think it’d be cool to be that tall for a day and also be able to score a ton of points in an NBA game the way he does.
Anna Bjork
School: Cazenovia
Class: Senior
Position: Setter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? Committed to North Park University Chicago women’s volleyball team.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My mom, because when I was younger, she introduced the sport of volleyball to me and I ended up really liking it. I started going to open gyms with her, and later on, when I started doing club (10 years old) she became my coach. My mom was the head coach of my first three club teams. In my fourth year, she was the club’s setting coach. From my fifth year on, she has always given me tips from the side. She’s always the one to drive me to and from practices, games and tournaments and is always there for me.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? In our second match of the season against Skaneateles, as a setter, I was still learning what types of sets my hitter liked to hit and the team was still working the kinks out but we still had the fortitude and strength to fight back hard against a team that was evenly matched with us. It set the tone for our season. However, overall, my favorite feeling when I played was when I had just gotten into the front row with Alyssa Wardell and Olivia Prikl because it felt like we were unstoppable.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Mind reading because as a setter I’m constantly assessing what the other side is about to do whether it’s the setters, hitters, or even the other team’s defense when they have the ball. When my team has the ball I need to read where the ball might go once it’s passed so I can get there. I need to stay aware of where my hitters are, and I need to see the other side of the court so I know where the blockers and defense is so I can set up the hitter for a kill.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I’m honestly not sure who I would trade places with because I am perfectly comfortable with myself and living out my story.
Ellie Booth
School: LaFayette
Class: Junior
Position: Setter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? I am playing basketball this winter.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration has been my teammates. Watching how hard they work and how positive they stay even under pressure pushes me to be better and to support my team the same way.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory with my team was when we won sectionals.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? If I could have any superpower, it would be teleportation, just because I’m late to everything.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? Beyoncé
Lottie Rose Bruzdzinski
School: Westhill
Class: Junior
Position: Middle blocker
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? I want to go to Paul Smith to study wildlife sciences as well as play volleyball, and I might be playing golf or track this spring.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My best friend Jocelyn Caputo, who was on the team last year but graduated. She played volleyball at Hudson Valley this past year and not only won the all-tournament MVP, but she did it while switching to a middle, which isn’t her position. She is the epitome of positivity and has the kindest heart, and is absolutely the best friend I could ever ask for.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? Winning states. That’s the obvious choice, but it’s not about actually winning the medals or the titles. It was loud on the court, the energy was always high and we were just having so much fun all together for one last game and it was amazing. But winning was also pretty great.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Shapeshifting. I say this a lot but it really is the best superpower; it can match basically any other ones. Flying? Turn into a bird. Regeneration? Turn into a lizard. Talking to animals? Well, I’ll just turn into that animal.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? Robert Irwin. He gets to hang out with different wild animals for his job and he makes bank doing it, but he also gets to help restore the world and help endangered species and that’s what really matters.
Cameron Cleveland
School: Hamilton
Class: Junior
Position: Opposite
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? Basketball
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My dad. He pushes me to be the best I can. He’s extremely supportive and makes me want to be better.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? Definitely stopping after all our games. We always had such a good time.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would want to be able to fly so I could get to club practice quicker.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I would trade places with Eve McCorkle so I could see what it’s like to actually be good at soccer.
Delaney Fish
School: Skaneateles
Class: Senior
Position: Setter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? Attending college, hopefully playing club volleyball there. Going to be playing lacrosse in the spring.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My mom, because she has overcome so many hardships in life and still has a positive attitude and is a good example.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory this season was beating Marcellus in the semifinals in their home gym. We were the underdogs, ranked as a No. 4 seed against the No. 1 seed. It was a crazy game.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Ability to read people’s minds because I’m nosy.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? Probably Harper Murray, who is a volleyball player at Nebraska, because she is so good and it would be insane to play at Nebraska.
Jaylyn Fisher
School: Phoenix
Class: Junior
Position: Setter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? I would like to go to college for a degree in a position in the medical field and play volleyball. No winter or spring sports, I play volleyball year-round.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration is my teammates because they always kept me motivated and helped me strive throughout this volleyball season.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory with my team is our game at home against Chittenango. I liked how intense and competitive it was. The win at the end was nice as well.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Mind reading, so I could see what people really think of me.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? If I could trade places with anyone for a day, it would be as a college volleyball player to learn what it’s like to handle being both a student and an athlete at a college level.
Chelsea Foltz
School: Weedsport
Class: Senior
Position: Middle
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? I plan on going to Hilbert College to play volleyball and major in forensic science.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My sister, Makayla. She is the reason I started playing volleyball and taught me to push myself to be better. She works hard to do her best and inspires me to do the same.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory from this season was winning sectionals. Last year, we made it to sectionals and lost and made it a goal this year to win, so it was very exciting.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Teleport, so distance would never be an issue and I could be anywhere at any time.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? If I could be anyone for a day, I would want to be Andi Jackson because I think it would be cool to see how a D-I volleyball player lives.
Madison Foy
School: Marcellus
Class: Senior
Position: Outside hitter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? College for track and field. I’ll be doing indoor and outdoor track this winter and spring.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My track coaches, Rick Belvito and Heidi Kerrick. They inspire me to be myself, push myself and find joy in the little things.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? Any bus ride home from tournaments or games, because we would always laugh and get food.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would be able to fly, so I could get places quickly.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone. Her hard work and mindset are so admirable. It would be cool to see what she does in a day.
Megan House
School: Weedsport
Class: Senior
Position: Setter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? I plan to go to college to study occupational therapy.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? Coach Erik Nicklaw, because he always brings energy and a competitive spirit into whatever he does. It could be simple ball control drills and he will still find a way to make it a competition.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory with my team was the bus ride to and from the sectional finals. Everyone was just listening to music together and singing.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Time travel. I want to know what’s going to happen in the future so I am not left questioning everything.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I would trade places with Zoyee Newton so that I could know what it’s like to finally be able to play defense.
Sophia Johnson
School: Westhill
Class: Junior
Position: Setter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? I am playing softball in the spring as well as club volleyball
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My grandma Dianne, because she is my biggest supporter and has always been there for me.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? Winning states.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would fly so I could go anywhere I want.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I would trade places with an alien because then I would know if they are real.
Dorothy McMahon
School: Marcellus
Class: Junior
Position: Outside hitter
Zoyee Newton
School: Weedsport
Class: Senior
Position: Outside hitter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? My plans after high school are to attend OCC and play volleyball. Afterwards, I will be transferring to Upstate to finish up and become a radiologist technician.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration is Megan House. I look up to Megan because she’s always pushing us to work hard and cheers us up when we get down on ourselves. Megan always makes our practices fun while also doing drills in practice, which makes me want to keep practicing and work hard to make myself better.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory with my team this year is going to states, which was a first in Weedsport’s history for volleyball.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? It would be telling the future. I would want to know what’s about to happen and know the outcome of any situation, like us coming to states.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I would trade places with Megan because I would have the power of where the ball is going to go but also set Megan because she loves to hit and never gets the chance to.
Jayden Schwarting
School: Hamilton
Class: Junior
Position: Libero
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? I’m still undecided about my future plans and college.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration has been Lexi Rodriguez throughout the years, because she is not only an amazing player but she is also an amazing person outside of volleyball. She makes me want to push to be a better player and keep trying.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory with my team this season was the bus rides and team dinners because it was an opportunity for us to connect and make memories with everyone.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? If I could have any superpower, I would choose teleportation because I feel like it would make things much easier, just to be able to travel from one place to another.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I honestly don’t know who I would trade places with for a day.
Danica Smith
School: Homer
Class: Junior
Position: Setter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? I plan on attending college for volleyball and I am playing for Club Syr for volleyball this club season.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? Coach Cook and coach Rachel have been my biggest inspirations because, no matter what, they always wanted the best for me and were always there when I needed them. They pushed me harder and harder, which not only made me a better volleyball player on the court but it also made me tougher as a person.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory with my team this season would have to be winning sectionals. We all worked so hard this season to get to where we were and it just really proved how badly we wanted to win and how determined we were. Winning that game was forever memorable and I won’t forget it.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would choose teleportation because it would let me travel anywhere instantly, save time, and help people quickly in emergencies.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I would trade places with a professional athlete like Bergen Reilly for a day because I could experience what it’s like to compete at a high level and train like the best. And since I want to play volleyball in college, it would help me see how managing school and volleyball is like at the collegiate level.
Alita Stearns
School: Homer
Class: Junior
Position: Libero
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? My goal is to play volleyball in college (haven’t decided where), travel abroad, and I’m still deciding on what I want to study. I play lacrosse in the spring and club volleyball during the winter.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration is my dad because he teaches me to appreciate the little things in life and he’s always been very supportive, always tries to make me happy and smile.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? I have so many fun memories with my team but my favorite would be winning sectionals. That night was incredible. We got back on the bus and celebrated. Our community held a parade, we were blasting music, singing and cheering. It was such a rewarding and amazing feeling for me and for everyone on the team, too.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? If I could have a superpower, it would be to time-travel so I can go to the past and experience good memories again. I’d go back and change things, too.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I would trade places with Kylie Jenner to be famous for a day and go shopping with unlimited money.
Alyssa Wardell
School: Cazenovia
Class: Senior
Position: Middle blocker
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? Running indoor and outdoor track and attending college in the fall.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My grandma, because she is in her 80s and still walks 90 miles a month. She reminds me that I truly have no excuses for not working hard.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? Playing the “Greatest Showman” soundtrack during our last practice while singing and dancing around the gym.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Freezing time because I procrastinate a lot.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? My dog, because then I would have no care in the world besides when my next walk would be.
dennis nett | dnett@syracuse.com
Emma West
School: Westhill
Class: Junior
Position: Outside hitter
Future plans? College? Playing any winter or spring sports? I intend to go to college and then to veterinary school to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I do wish to play volleyball in college. I am currently doing indoor track with the intention of also doing outdoor track this summer.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? Alice Bender has been a huge inspiration to me. This is because I know I can always talk to her and she will listen and help me.
What’s your favorite memory with your team this season? My favorite memory would be winning states this season. After being with the team for two state final losses, this win felt even more special.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would like to have the ability to talk to animals. I am always curious about what they are thinking.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I would want to trade places with Cielo Ramos because her life looks so fun and goofy.
Coach of the year
Karla Prince
School: Westhill
No. of years coaching? Eight years coaching at Westhill, but more elsewhere.
Who inspires you to coach in your sport? Gary Bynon and Mary Jo Cerqua are huge inspirations to me. These two coaches are living legends who will go down in history as the greatest influencers in New York state volleyball. Gary coaches for Burnt Hills in Albany and Mary Jo recently retired from Baldwinsville. The way they mentor younger coaches and pass on their wisdom of the game is inspiring and selfless. Specifically for Central New York volleyball, these two coaches led the transition to playing in the fall season and collectively have won 10 state championships in a very short period. Mary Jo proved that Section III volleyball is a force to be reckoned with at the state level, and now that she is retired, it’s my goal to continue that legacy.
What is your favorite sports memory from this season? My favorite memory of this season was watching Emma West complete a perfect pass (and notably hold her positioning extra long like we work on in practice), which led to a beautiful jump set by Sophia Johnson (who beautifully read our opponent’s defense), and an unstoppable kill to zone 1 by Lottie Bruzdzinski on November 22 to secure Westhill’s third state championship in recorded history. I’m so proud the 2025 team was blessed with the ultimate ending of their season. The emotion that overwhelms you in that moment is breathtaking and worth the countless hours spent on volleyball in life.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? Easy question. Sophia Johnson, my setter. I love setting, and I love coaching it. I’ve actually joked about this with her. I’d give just about anything for one more day to competitively play in high school or the NCAA….as long as I could guarantee I could get out of bed and walk in the morning. I think a lot of coaches and parents wish we had one more day to compete.
What is your favorite quote from your favorite sports movie? “I’m not looking for the best players…I’m looking for the right ones.” (“Miracle,” 2004). I believe a pillar to success is prioritizing people who are committed and great teammates. Great teammates will bring positivity, leadership, motivation, and court chemistry. After that, coaching success will come.
Second team
Jasmine Kolb, Cato Meridian
Caiteee Fenton, Cazenovia
Olivia Pirkl, Cazenovia
Madison Eastman, Chittenango
Molly Sorenson, Homer
Eila Spanbauer, Homer
Zoie Karcz, Jordan-Elbridge
Amelia Evans, LaFayette
Harper Camp, Marcellus
Lake Ziober, Marcellus
Karlee Bradley, Phoenix
Rose Mullin, Phoenix
Maddie Mayer, Skaneateles
Jenna Wing, Solvay
Lucy DeMore, Westhill
Grace Horning, Westhillto
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