Check out the best high school boys volleyball players in Wisconsin

2024 high school men’s volleyball season programs continue to try to join the annual program WIAA state tournament Starting November 6 at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, the day before Girls Tournament This season will be the 24th state tournament since it was brought back in 2000 after a nearly 20-year hiatus.

Here are the top 26 players in the state of Wisconsin this season. All of them have made the conference all-star roster in their respective fields or have made both the conference and all-state rosters.

Ben Bayer, OH, jr., Sussex Hamilton

Big brother Max may be off to college, but the Chargers still have another star with the last name Bayer. Ben Bayer made the Greater Metro Conference second team as a sophomore last season and helped the Chargers get within one game of the state tournament. The Chargers were one of the state’s top teams a season ago with Max and Matteo Morgano, and the younger Bayer will look to keep the Chargers playing at an elite level.

Braden Borchardt, OH, jr., New Berlin United

Borchardt was one of two sophomores named to the all-Woodland West first team squad last season and was named an all-state honoree. He helped lead New Berlin to an 18-win season and a 6-1 mark in the Woodland Conference as a sophomore last season.

Jayce Brechtl, S/Opp, Jr., Waterford

Waterford enters its third season of boys volleyball with some returning players who could make a difference in the Southern Lakes Conference championship race this season. Brechtl, who was named to the conference’s second-team as a setter last season, is one of those key returners for the Wolverines as one of coach Cherie Phelan’s program leaders.

Liam Devine, OH, jr., West Allis Hale

The other sophomore to make the Woodland West all-first team was Devine, who was named to the team along with teammate Ashton Poritz. Devine recorded 224 kills, 100 digs and 19 aces as a sophomore for the West Allis co-op, playing in just 23 games a season ago. She will be a name to watch over the next few seasons.

Caden Eichner, S, sr., Union Grove

Eichner earned first-team all-Southern Lakes Conference and all-state honors after helping lead the Broncos to the state tournament as a junior setter. She broke the school record for most assists in a single season with 945 total assists.

Will Fruth, MB, sr., Pewaukee

Fruth’s first season as a varsity starter resulted in him being named to Woodland West’s all-first team as a junior last season alongside teammate Logan Mainka. The duo led the Pirates to an 18-9 mark a season ago.

Isaac Gabel, L, sr., Waukesha West

The Wolverines lost two top-tier stars in all-Classic 8 Conference first-teamers Carsyn Stringfellow and Ryan Richter to graduation, but they got back a key piece in Gabel. The then-junior was named to the all-Classic 8 second team amid a 23-win season for the Wolverines, including a 4-2 mark in the conference behind the Waukesha Fusion co-op and back-to-back state runner-up Arrowhead. Her 337 digs led the conference last season.

Oakley Griggs, Sr./R, Sr., Germantown

After a run of seven state tournament appearances in nine seasons from 2011 to 2019, the Warhawks haven’t made the Resch Center since 2019. That could change this season with the return of a player like Griggs. The 6-foot-5-inch hitter earned second-team all-Greater Metro Conference and state all-around honors as a junior last year. It’s a tough matchup against the top teams in the GMC and the region, but Griggs and the Warhawks could be a team to watch in 2024.

Owen Hirthe, OH, sr., South Milwaukee Cooperative

Ethan Jetzer’s departure leaves a big hole in the South Milwaukee rotation entering this season, but Hirthe’s return makes the hole much smaller. Hirthe earned his second all-Woodland East first-team honors after totaling 202 kills last season as the Rockets made the state tournament.

Liam Houston, OH, sr., Waukesha Cooperative

The Fusion were one of the most exciting teams in the region a season ago and earned a spot in the state tournament. Despite some key losses among its starters, Houston, a Classic 8 Conference honoree, returns to the rotation to provide a boost for coach Joe Banske’s team. “He’s going to be the link between what we’ve accomplished in the past and what we’re looking to accomplish this season,” Banske said.

Michael Janssen, MH, senior, Kimberly

Janssen did a little bit of everything for the Papermakers en route to the state semifinals as a junior a season ago. She earned all-state honors and was named to the all-Fox Valley Association second team after a season with 229 kills and 80 blocks.

Owen Krause, OH, senior, Kimberly

Janssen’s teammate was a Swiss Army knife for coach Matthew Seidl’s youth team. Krause was also named to the all-state honor roll and the all-FVA first team after a season in which she recorded 285 kills, 203 digs and 50 aces. Kimberly’s duo could put them right back in the thick of the state championship hunt this season.

Max Larcheid, MH, sr., Marquette

It wouldn’t be a list of the state’s best players without a member of Marquette’s program. The Hilltoppers were the gold standard in the sport, and the talent pool is still flowing this season with the return of Max Larcheid. A three-time varsity letterwinner, he was a Greater Metro Conference first-team member and statewide honors representative as a junior.

Jackson Loewe, OH, senior, Fond du Lac

She may be a libero on the prestigious Milwaukee Sting travel program, but from the high school ranks, Loewe returns as one of the most versatile players in the state. She led the Fondy program in digs the past three seasons and in kills the past two. Loewe was named to the all-Fox Valley Association first team as a junior and also earned a spot on the all-state honor roll.

Liam Lubkeman, MH, senior, Westosha Central

It’s hard not to notice Lubkeman on the basketball or volleyball court. The 6-foot-9-inch, 230-pound middle hitter was named to the all-state honor roll as a junior last season with 211 kills and 76 blocks. He helped the Falcons come within one game of the state tournament. Falcons coach Drew Cox is excited for the senior class led by Lubkeman, which could get them back to state for the third time since 2020.

Logan Mainka, OH, sr., Pewaukee

The Pirates hope to build on an 18-win campaign from a year ago, and Mainka’s return could help them do that. The two-time Woodland West all-star was also named to the all-state honor roll for the second straight season as a junior. The Woodland Conference championship race could be entertaining all year long. Don’t underestimate the Pirates this season.

Aaron Martin, S, sr., South Milwaukee Cooperative

Rockets coach Tyler Cicigoi got two big pieces with the return of Hirthe and captain Aaron Martin for his senior season. Martin was named to the all-Woodland East first team and the all-state honor roll after a junior season with 742 assists (ninth in the state) and 48 blocks.

Alexey Mikhailenko, OH, jr., Farm

Highlanders coach Tom Scherrer said you could argue that Mikhailenko is the best player in the state. When you look at Mikhailenko’s numbers, you might think Scherrer has a point. As a sophomore, Mikhailenko had 405 kills, 121 digs and 74 aces. He was also named to the all-North Coast Conference first team and the all-state third team. Add in returning senior Justin Bliesner (173 kills, 85 blocks), and Homestead could be a dangerous program this season with the state’s best player on their side.

Roberts Osis, OH, sr., Nicolet

One of the most intriguing programs in the region and statewide may be Nicolet, which brings back three North Shore Conference first-teamers to coach Brad Kuehl’s rotation. First on that list is Osis, who helped the Knights win the North Shore title last season and reach an 18-win season. Osis also earned an all-state honor roll.

Henry Possell, OH, senior, Madison West

Few players in the Madison area had as productive a season as Possell last year. The then-junior was named to the Big 8 Conference first team and the statewide honors team after a season in which she had 237 kills, 155 digs, 44 aces and 27 blocks. With another campaign like this this season, she will almost certainly win the conference’s player of the year award.

Nathan Ramus, OH, jr., Appleton North

Lightning coach Mike Maass has never lacked talent in his program, and that continues with Nathan Ramus returning in 2024. The three-sport athlete aims to play basketball at the next level, but his volleyball career has been a productive one. He was named to the Fox Valley Association All-Second Team with 301 points as a sophomore. “Nathan is a special athlete who can excel in any sport he chooses to play,” Maass said.

Oliver Scharnick, RH, sr., Nicolet

The second of the three Knights is Scharnick, Nicolet’s impressive right-handed hitter. With Osis and Scharnick, the Knights went 6-2 in conference play last season and won a regional matchup. It has been 14 seasons since the Knights have played on the state tournament stage. Scharnick could help end that drought this season.

Tanner Sindorf, L, sr., Kettle Moraine

Sindorf was named the top libero in the Classic 8 Conference as a junior and helped the Lasers reach the state tournament for the ninth time in program history and the fourth time since 2019. “Tanner is a player who leads by example,” coach Elliott Van Dyke said.

Danny Torres, S, sr., Nicolet

The third of Nicolet’s three-headed returning offense is Torres, who was named the North Coast Conference player of the year a season ago and made the third-team all-state. Torres was one of only two non-seniors (Aleksey Mikhailenko) to be named to all three all-state squads last season.

David Warren, S, sr., Brookfield East

Brookfield East hasn’t qualified for state since 2019, but with his setter back on the team, coach Andy Nosbusch expects big things from the Greater Metro Conference’s second-place team leader. “His love of the game is obvious,” Nosbusch said. “Not only is he a great player, but the way he pushes himself to be better, he makes everyone around him better.”

Miles Weaver, OH, senior, Neenah

Weaver is coming off a monster junior campaign in which she racked up 273 kills, 198 digs and 51 aces in her second season as a starter for the Rockets. She was named to the Fox Valley Association’s all-first team and will be named a captain for the second straight season, according to coach Jake Coenen.