IndyStar opens voting for Indiana high school volleyball Player of the Week
Nine players from across Indiana have been nominated for the Indianapolis Star’s weekly recognition, with voting closing at noon on Friday, 28 August.
The Indianapolis Star has opened voting for its weekly Indiana high school volleyball Player of the Week poll, covering performances from 17 to 22 August 2026. The recurring recognition aims to highlight top performers across the state, with the current ballot featuring nine athletes from various districts. Voting for the period closes at noon on Friday, 28 August.
The nominees include Nicole Bontrager of Valparaiso, Brooklyn Carlton of Morristown, Adelynn Crispin of New Palestine, Charlie Edwards-Ballou of Purdue Poly-Broad Ripple, Sydney Elizondo of Crawfordsville, Madelyn Ellis of Lawrenceburg, Gabby Gilliard of Center Grove, Kyla Hurley of Penn, and Maysa Lawrence of Evansville Memorial. Each player was selected based on standout statistical contributions during the specified week.
Charlie Edwards-Ballou, a senior at Purdue Poly-Broad Ripple, set a school record with 27 aces in a 3-0 victory over Tindley. She also recorded four additional aces and 13 assists in a match against Irvington Prep. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Carlton of Morristown cleared the 500 career kills milestone during the week, contributing 54 kills and 59 digs in her recent matches.
Adelynn Crispin of New Palestine has helped lead her team to an undefeated 7-0 record. Crispin recorded 64 kills across six matches, including a 13-kill performance in a come-from-behind victory over Southport. Kyla Hurley of Penn provided a defensive anchor against defending 4A state champion Fort Wayne Carroll, helping her team go the distance in a three-set contest.
The poll follows last week’s recognition of Ragan Ward of Lawrence North, who was named Player of the Week for 15 August. Ward marked her debut with 39 kills, five aces, 12 blocks, and 14 digs, helping the Wildcats secure wins over Trinity Lutheran and Mater Dei.
Other notable performances include Gabby Gilliard of Center Grove, who finished the week with 69 kills on .433 hitting, and Maysa Lawrence of Evansville Memorial, who recorded 89 digs and 93 receptions in 15 sets. The Indianapolis Star’s poll serves as a key institutional benchmark for individual excellence in the state’s high school volleyball season.
