Xavier’s pursuit of a third straight 6A title is already the biggest story of the 2026-27 Arizona girls high school volleyball season, and they’re bringing a national ranking and the state’s best player to the fight. This squad is coming in hot, ranked No. 8 nationally by MaxPreps, and after taking down Tempe Corona del Sol for back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025, they’re clearly hungry for more. This isn’t just a strong team, folks, it’s a dynasty in the making.
Xavier’s Reigning Star Is a Force of Nature
Leading the charge for Xavier is none other than Tessa Larkin, their senior outside hitter. You want stats? Last year, this Stanford commit racked up a ridiculous 419 kills, pulled off 248 digs, threw down 71 blocks, and served up 39 aces. Seriously, read those numbers again! Larkin is the reigning Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year for volleyball, and MaxPreps has her pegged as the state’s absolute best player heading into this season. She’s been the centerpiece for Xavier’s two straight 6A championships, and the accolades just keep piling up: AIA 6A first-team, The Republic’s All-Arizona Girls Volleyball Team in 2025. Xavier head coach Lamar-Renee Bryant didn’t mince words, saying, “Tessa is one of the most accomplished players in the country. She’s a leader and an extremely hard worker, I’m so proud of what she’s done here at Xavier.” That kind of praise from a coach tells you everything you need to know about the impact she has on the court.
The Challengers Are Loading Up, But Can Anyone Stop This Roll?
Of course, Xavier isn’t going unchallenged. Corona del Sol might have lost ten seniors, but junior middle blocker Mikaela Lee-Tsosie is a massive reason they’re still a threat. This 6-foot-3 powerhouse put up 208 kills and 69 blocks last season, finishing third in kills and second in total blocks for the Aztecs. Her coach, Ben Maxfield, called her a “foundational piece” who brings “a physical presence” and high-level experience as a junior. Then there’s Perry, stacked with talent and featuring sophomore setter Sophia Gregg, who just played with the US U-17 team at the Pan American Cup and was voted its best setter. She crushed it as a freshman with 307 kills and 44 aces! Coach Andrew Yamashiro is hyped, stating, “We’re big and physical. We’re bringing back a lot of players, and Sophia will be one of the main pieces that we have on our floor.” Don’t sleep on Liberty’s senior outside hitter Lauren Forelli either, who led her team with 295 kills last year, plus 208 digs, 34 blocks, and 32 aces, and she’s already committed to Michigan State. And let’s not forget Kristen Sheehy, the 6-foot-4 senior middle hitter from Sandra Day O’Connor. The competition is fierce in 6A, but will it be enough?
Beyond 6A, the storylines are heating up too. Sunrise Mountain in 5A is desperate to finally break through after finishing runner-up the last two seasons. And over in 1A, Cicero Prep is going for an insane fourth straight title. This season is set to be absolutely wild across all six Arizona Interscholastic Association conferences!
The season is just getting started, and you can even cast your vote for who you think should be at the top of the 6A player list. That poll closes Wednesday, September 9, at 6 p.m. Who’s gonna own the court this fall? We’re all gonna find out together!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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