Best of the Best: 2025 All-Valley Boys Volleyball Team
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- Lehi’s Ashton Shewell takes a swing in a 6A boys volleyball state tournament match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, May 9, 2025.
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- Cooper Pope of Timpanogos takes a swing against Desert Hills in a 4A boys volleyball state semifinal match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
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- Orem’s Lucky Jennings (8) celebrates with his teammates during a 4A boys volleyball state quarterfinal match against Green Canyon at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
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- Maple Mountain’s Taft Hillman passes the ball in the 5A boys volleyball state finals against Wasatch at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
Here are the top boys volleyball players in the Utah Valley area for 2025.
Player of the Year: Trey Thornton, 6-7 Sr. OH, Maple Mountain
Thornton was the lynchpin for back-to-back state championships, even with defenses geared to slow him down. This season, Thornton logged 422 kills (4.7 per set) while hitting .431. He added 49 aces, 43 total blocks and 169 digs. In the past two seasons, the BYU-bound lefty totaled 851 kills.
Offensive MVP: Ashton Shewell, 6-5 So. OH, Lehi
Shewell’s main sport is basketball but you could make a case for volleyball as well. In just his second varsity season, Shewell managed 394 kills (4.7 per set) while hitting a robust .367 to go along with 30 aces and 26 total blocks.
Defensive MVP: Aaron Neilson, 6-4 Sr. MB, Orem
Nielson teamed up with Luke Wolsey as perhaps the best middle blocker combo in the state. Neilson contributed 89 total blocks while adding 203 kills (1.9 per set) and hitting .336.
Co-Setter MVPs: Taft Hillman, 6-7 Jr., Maple Mountain and Lucky Jennings, 6-0 Sr., Orem
Hillman was the setter for last year’s state championship and helped repeat the effort with 964 assists (10.6 per set) while adding 69 kills, 29 aces, 77 total blocks and 127 digs. Jennings topped the 4A state champion Tigers with 733 assists (7.7 per set) with 69 kills, 40 aces and 164 digs.
Co-Coaches of the Year: Bill Sefita, Orem and Napoleon Galang, Maple Mountain
All Sefita does is win championships. He has led the Orem girls program to consecutive state titles (2023-24) and then directed the boys program to a 26-6 mark and gold trophy this spring. Galang, an assistant for the Golden Eagles during their 2024 championship season, inherited a lot of talent but kept the program challenged and on target for another state title while posting a 29-1 record.
FIRST TEAM ALL-VALLEY
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Chase Billeter, Jr. OH, Wasatch
Billeter totaled over 300 kills (3.5 per set) for the 5A state runner-up Wasps.
Mattheus Borges Jr. OH, Maple Mountain
Borges provided another potent attacker for the Golden Eagles with 192 kills (2.1 per set) while hitting .260 while also adding 16 aces, 27 total blocks and 153 digs.
Reis Brothers, Jr. S, Springville
Brothers had a terrific year for the Red Devils with 705 assists (8.7 per set) and also totaled 59 kills, 32 aces, 67 total blocks and 108 digs.
Kamohoalii Chan Sr., Spanish Fork
Chan did it all for the Dons with 236 kills (2.6 per set), 45 aces and 178 digs.
Keagan Cundiff, Sr. S, Westlake
Cundiff directed the offense for the Thunder with 940 assists (9.6 per set) and also logged 46 kills, 26 aces, 40 total blocks and 238 digs.
Freddy Dayton, Jr. OH, Lone Peak
Dayton totaled 220 kills (2.3 per set) to go along with 35 aces, 33 total blocks and 211 digs for the Knights.
Waylon Francom, Sr. OH, Payson
Francom led the way for the Lions with 393 kills (3.8 per set) and hit .284 with 40 aces, 51 total blocks and 199 digs.
Max Hale, Sr. OH, American Fork
Hale was the main weapon for the Cavemen, finishing with 354 kills (4.5 per set) and hitting .249 while logging 16 aces, 29 total blocks and 148 digs.
Brady Holt, So. OH, Lone Peak
Holt built on a great freshman season with another good one, ending up with 350 kills (3.7 per set) and hit .279 while adding 28 aces, 43 total blocks and 149 digs.
Ben Hone, Sr. OH, Orem
Hone was a powerful weapon for the 4A state champions, finishing with 305 kills (3.4 per set) and hit .266 to go along with 45 aces, 28 total blocs and 145 digs.
Luke Michaelis, Jr. OH, Cedar Valley
Michaelis had 336 kills (3.1 per set) and hit .303 with earning 36 total blocks and 16 aces.
Cooper Pope Sr. OH, Timpanogos
Pope’s dynamic play led the T-Wolves to a surprise second-place finish in the 4A tournament with 378 kills (4.7 per set) while hitting .263. He also had 33 aces, 51 total blocks and 233 digs.
Ty Reynolds, So. S, Lehi
Reynolds is one of the top young setters in the state and led the Pioneers with 948 assists (11.4 per set) and also managed 35 aces.
JJ Serre Jr. OH, Wasatch
Serre couldn’t be stopped and had over 300 kills (3.7 per set) while hitting .311 for the Wasps.
Brockton Shirley, Sr. OH, Payson
Shirley totaled 337 kills for the Lions (3.3 per set) and contributed 22 aces and 181 digs.
Manase Storey, Sr. MB, Maple Mountain
Storey owned the middle for the Golden Eagles with 165 kills (2.0 per set) while hitting an astounding .498. He also contributed 27 total blocks and 34 aces.
Evan Straw Sr. MB, Springville
Straw was a presence for the Red Devils with 213 kills (2.7 per set) while hitting .350, to go along with 57 total blocks, 21 aces and 162 digs.
Kilika Tafa, Jr. OH, Westlake
The high-flying Tafa was one of the Valley’s most dynamic athletes and ended up with 326 kills (3.9 per set) and hit .238 while adding 28 aces and 39 total blocks.
Preston Taylor Sr. OPP, Salem Hills
Taylor topped the Skyhawks with 303 kills (3.5 per set) to go along with 60 total blocks, 27 aces and 169 digs.
Brayden Thomas, Sr. OH, Pleasant Grove
Thomas led the Vikings with 222 kills (2.6 per set) and fired off 46 aces while totaling 213 digs.
Chance Wallace Sr. L, Timpanogos
Wallace was on top of his game for the T-Wolves with 398 digs (4.9 per set).
Luke Wolsey Jr. MB, Orem
The quick-jumping Wolsey was a headache for opponents, finishing with 175 kills (2.0 per set) and hit .377 while adding 27 aces and 64 total blocks.
SECOND TEAM ALL-VALLEY
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Trevor Allen, So. OH, Lone Peak
Allen had 159 kills (1.7 per set) while totaling 32 aces, 25 total blocks and 190 digs.
Jace Anderson, So. OH, Spanish Fork
Anderson finished with 187 kills (2.0 per set) with 18 aces and 161 digs.
Dylan Avery, Sr. OPP, Lehi
Avery had 151 kills (1.8 per set) and hit .277 while adding 44 total blocks.
Eli Baldwin, Jr. OH, Salem Hills
Baldwin contributed 177 kills (1.9 per set) and tallied 15 aces, 38 total blocks and 162 digs.
Will Beckwith Sr. OH, American Heritage
Beckwith was a top option for the Patriots, finishing with 260 kills (3.5 per set), 51 aces and 124 digs.
Treyvon Cly Jr. L, Orem
Cly had 105 kills but eventually switched to libero, where he totaled 299 digs (2.7 per set).
Talon Colarusso Sr. OH, Provo
Colarusso topped the Bulldogs with 149 kills (2.2 per set) and a total of 51 blocks.
Caden Cox, Jr MB, American Fork
Cox totaled 127 kills (1.7 per set) for the Cavemen.
William Dayton, Jr. S, Lone Peak
Dayton had 766 assists (8.1 per set) and contributed 21 aces, 34 total blocks and 189 digs.
Zaxon Downey Jr. S, Timpanogos
Downey really came on down the stretch and led the T-Wolves with 667 assists (8.3 per set) to go along with 37 aces and 133 digs.
Brody Hemphill, Jr. OH, Mountain View
Hemphill finished with 197 kills (2.2 per set) with 38 aces and 165 digs.
Brody Hulme Sr. S, Wasatch
Hulme was solid at the setter spot for the Wasps, averaging 9.6 assists per set with more than 40 aces.
Josh Johnson Sr. OH, Skyridge
Johnson was one of the top hitters for the Falcons and averaged 2.5 kills per set.
Sam Lowell Sr., MB, Timpanogos
Lowell did good work for the T-Wolves with 55 total blocks and 106 kills (1.6 per set).
Aki Malietoa, Jr.RS, Pleasant Grove
Malietoa added 205 kills for the Vikings (2.0 per set) with 47 total blocks.
Jace Mangum Jr. OH, Payson
Mangum finished with 239 kills (2.4 per set) and hit .232 to go along with 44 aces, 30 total blocks and 241 digs.
Nicholas Nelson, Jr. OH, Mountain View
Nelson did his job of the Bruins, totaling 215 kills (2.4 per set) and adding 41 blocks.
Kimball Olsen Fr. OH, Maple Mountain
Olsen has a bright future with the Golden Eagles after he had 128 kills (1.4 per set) and hit .230 while firing off 32 aces and logging 95 digs.
Evan Olmstead, Sr. L, American Fork
Olmstead, who will play for his father at BYU, ended up with 397 digs (5.0 per set) and also added 13 aces.
Jonny Petersen Jr. S, Cedar Valley
The Aviators relied on Peterson for 602 assists (5.7 per set) as well as 121 kills (1.1 per set), 30 aces and 201 digs.
Marcus Rettinger Sr. MB, Skyridge
Rettinger averaged 2.7 kills per set for the Falcons.
Jacob Ricks, Sr. OH, Timpanogos
Ricks totaled 133 kills (1.6 per set) as well as 215 digs.
Kyson Ririe Jr. OH, Westlake
Ririe packed a punch with 204 kills (2.1 per set) for the Thunder.
Talon Roberts So. S, Salem Hills
The setter for the Skyhawks finished with 750 assists (8.2 per set) as well as 15 aces, 35 total blocks and 159 digs.
Jackson Sanders Sr. OH, Orem
Sanders was a great option for the Tigers with 154 kills (1.6 per set) and added 116 digs.
Alec Slater, Sr. OH, Wasatch
Slater had a great senior season for the Wasps.
Nephi Spendlove, Sr. MB, Springville
Spendlove totaled 89 total blocks and had 112 kills (1.4 per set) for the Red Devils.
Ian Wilson, Sr. OH, Lehi
Wilson contributed 200 kills (2.4 per set) and tallied 41 total blocks.
Thomas Wood, 6-4 So MB, Westlake
Wood was solid in the middle for the Thunder with 171 kills (1.9 per set) and hit .334 while contributing 51 total blocks.
HONORABLE MENTION
(Listed in alphabetical order)
AMERICAN FORK: Evan Johnson, Smith Littlefield, Jackson Mecham, Jarrett Santiago.
AMERICAN HERITAGE: Peter Jacobson, Jake McGhie, Parker Mendenhall, Sam Wilson.
CEDAR VALLEY: Sam Davis, Jordan Easton, Kahana Franco, Elias Hending, Luke Hokanson, Swayden Sabey.
FREEDOM PREP: Joseh Black, Wyatt Leigh, McKay Smith, Parker Taylor
LEHI: Santiago Hernandez. Dax Moore, Taite Stewart.
LONE PEAK: Thomas Beutler, Mason Green, Max Hamblin, Britton Schiess.
MAPLE MOUNTAIN: McKay Beattie, Jonny Hair, Abe Hawkins.
MOUNTAIN VIEW: Mac Earnest, Micah Fairbanks, Adam Maya, Toby Smith, Braxton Ward, Makai Wood.
OREM: Will Brown, Aaron Maya, Isaac Richardson.
PAYSON: Ryan Facer, Dillon Houston, Parker Houston, Teancum Joel.
PLEASANT GROVE: Elijah Barnes, Jason Frink, Nicholas Call, Tyson Thomas.
PROVO: Leif Gonzalez, Jaxson Koford, Hayden Moser, Tucker Snarr, Corban Tidwell
SALEM HILLS: Harrison Egbert, Kooper Stewart.
SKYRIDGE: Alex Caldwell, Fihi Fainga, Trey Mahe, Ben Muir, Boston Prettyman, Devin Willits.
SPANISH FORK: Alec Bluth, Dylan Bluth, Preston Hupp, Sawyer Larsen, Mason Swenson, Braxton Vale.
SPRINGVILLE: Taylor Cook, Christian Hopkins, Garrett Kilgrow, Marshall Patterson.
TIMPANOGOS: Jared Hansen, Crew Kozlowski, Brigham Wohan.
TIMPVIEW: Bowie Asvitt, Christian Puente, Ikaika Reyes, Gaku Toma, Vander Van Dyke.
WASATCH: Foraker Fisher, Grant Hansen, Everett Saunders, Carter Smith.
WESTLAKE: Parker Swenson, Micah Sorensen, DJ Simmonds, Talon Schank.
ALL-VALLEY BOYS VOLLEYBALL HISTORY
Thornton is the second Daily Herald Boys Volleyball Player of the Year after earning Offensive MVP in 2024, the first season of high school volleyball in the state of Utah.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2024 Ethan Hillyard, Pleasant Grove
2025 Trey Thornton, Maple Mountain
