The AVCA is proud to name the 2024 Junior Beach All-Americans. This year’s honorees include 21 athletes, eight on both the first and second teams, and five honorable mention selections.
The 2024 All-Americans include players from six states. California leads the way with 12, followed by Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and Texas with two each, and Hawai‘i rounds out the list with one All-American. Atop the pack in college commitments from this year’s honorees is Stanford with five. Both California and Cal Poly are next with three All-Americans apiece.
The Junior Beach All-America Committee, who selected the teams, includes Jeff Smith (chair, 692 Beach — California/West Coast), Wayne Gant (Great American Volleyball — Northeast), Jay Ellmyer (Sandstorm BVC — Florida), Andrew Bennett (Tamarack Beach Volleyball Club — California/West Coast), Ryan Mariano (RPM Sand — Arizona), Bryan Jones (Southern Sand Select — Atlanta/Southeast), Marlee Rice (AAU — California/West Coast), Jason Kaiser (210 Beach Volleyball — Texas), Ashley Ivy (Austin Juniors — Texas), and Patty Dodd (MBsand — California/West Coast).
FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
CHARLOTTA BELL (ValleyGirls Beach Volleyball)
Hometown: Moraga, CA
College Commitment: Stanford
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at 2024 BVCA Individual Pairs Nationals, 3rd at 2024 AVP Junior Nationals, 5th at USAV U19 FIVB Worlds Team Trials
- Bell came back strong in 2024 after missing the 2023 beach season after having knee surgery.
- She posted a string of top five finishes this June and July at a number of top events.
- She is one of five 2024 AVCA Junior Beach All-Americans who has committed to Stanford.
KENNEDY COAKLEY (Optimum Beach)
Hometown: Lutz, FL
College Commitment: USC
Notable Tournament Finishes: 9th at 2024 AVP Denver (pro division), 9th at 2024 AVP Waupaca (pro division), 1st at AAU 2023 Juniors
- Coakley has been voted as the No. 1 recruit in her 2024 grad year class.
- She has trained mostly with professionals this year and has played in events at that level over the summer.
- She qualified for a total of 5 AVPs, and she has been playing in the FIVB world tour representing USA alongside Olympian Brooke Sweat.
Priscilla Piantadosi-Lima, Optimum Beach Club
“I’ve been coaching Kennedy since she was 14 years old and she has dreamt about representing USA for a while. It’s been so much fun to watch her pursue her dreams. I’m so proud of her constant hard work of discovering herself and what’s needed to grow to become the player and person she needs to be to achieve her goals.”
VICTORIA HENKEL (MBsand)
Hometown: Redondo Beach, CA
College Commitment: LSU
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at the 2024 BVCA Challenge Nationals, 1st at the 2024 BVCA Manhattan Beach Challenge, 5th at the 2024 BVCA Pairs Nationals
- She has been part of the US National Training Development Program for the last three years.
- Henkel has been a key part of MBsand’s success, playing at flight 1 in 2023 and 2024 and winning five challenges.
- She was second overall on the P1440 leader board.
BAILEY HIGGINS (Berkley Prep)
Hometown: Tampa, FL
College Commitment: Florida State
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at 2024 AAU Nationals, 2nd at 2024 AVP Junior Nationals, 1st at 2024 USAV Gulf Shores Open
- Higgins recorded five top-2 finishes over the past five months at major events.
- She is widely considered one of the top senior beach players in Florida.
Jay Ellmyer, Sandstorm BVC
“She is a great blocker and has exceptional defense when pulling, and her transition offense is explosive. Her setting and jump serve are additional weapons and her communication and calm presence on the court make her partners better.”
AVERY JACKSON (Madsand)
Hometown: Dallas, TX
College Commitment: Stanford
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at 2024 p1440 Junior Nationals, 2nd at 2024 BVCA Individual Pairs Nationals, 2nd at 2024 BVCA Club v. Club Nationals
- She has been on a roll this summer, recording seven top-3 finishes.
- Jackson is committed to Stanford.
- She had shoulder surgery in 2022, which kept her off the sand, but has come back strong the past two years.
ELISE LENAHAN (MBsand)
Hometown: Seal Beach, CA
College Commitment: Cal Poly
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at the 2024 BVCA Challenge Nationals, 1st at 2024 BVCA Manhattan, 3rd at 2024 p1440 Alabama
- Lenahan played at flight 2 for powerful MBsand in 2023-24.
- She won five challenges, including the BVCA National Challenge and AAU National Challenge.
- She is one of three 2024 AVCA Junior Beach All-Americans who has committed to Cal Poly.
SALLY PEREZ (Sinjin Beach)
Hometown: Apex, NC
College Commitment: UCLA
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at the 2024 USAV U19 World Championship Trials, 1st at 2024 AVP Next-Siesta Key, 1st at 2023 AAU Junior Nationals
- Perez is a dominant blocker with a great all-around game.
- She has first-place finishes at five events in 2024, including two at AVP Next events.
Greg Vogel, Sinjin Beach
“If I’ve ever had an All-American to nominate, Sally is the one. My opinion is that she’s the top athlete in the 2024 class and certainly the top blocker. I’ll likely never get to coach a player this gifted. She was designed to excel at beach volleyball, and her ceiling for the game is through the roof!”
STACY REEVES (Beckman/MBsand)
Hometown: Tustin, CA
College Commitment: TCU
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at the 2024 BVCA Challenge Nationals, 1st at 2024 BVCA Manhattan, 3rd at 2024 p1440 Alabama
- Reeves has enjoyed great success for MBsand during her career.
- She won five challenges, including the AAU National Challenge and BVCA National Challenge.
- She will join Coach Hector Gutierrez’s TCU squad.
SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
ADDISYN BRINKERHOFF (ALA Gilbert/Volley For Life)
Hometown: Queen Creek, AZ
College Commitment: Arizona
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at 2024 BVCA Club Challenge-Arizona, 5th in Tier 1 at the 2024 BVCA CvC Nationals, 1st at 2023 AVP National Qualifier
- Brinkerhoff has honed her game throughout her very successful high school career. She has recorded a number of top-5 placings at BVCA, AVP, and AAU events.
- Playing at No. 1 and No. 2, she lost very few matches for Volley For Life’s CvC open squad.
Brian Brinkerhoff
“She’s been around the game her whole life, and she’s a very high-IQ player.”
INDIGO CLARKE (Secret Training)
Hometown: Kailua, HI
College Commitment: Stanford
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at the 2024 p1440 Junior Nationals, 5th at the 2023 AAU Junior Nationals, 5th at the 2022 AAU Junior Nationals
- An elite defender, Clarke has steadily improved all aspects of her game throughout her high school career.
- She has had great success at AAU and p1440 events, earning a number of top-5 finishes over the last three seasons.
Billy Allen, Stanford Volleyball
“Indigo is a great defender from Hawai‘i who has had a lot of success at the junior level, including winning the p1440 Junior Nationals championship this year. She will be a strong addition to Stanford University’s beach team and will make an impact as an incoming freshman this season.”
CARLY HIXSON (Cathedral Catholic HS)
Hometown: Poway, CA
College Commitment: California
Notable Tournament Finishes: 3rd at 2024 BVCA Individual Pairs Nationals, 3rd at 2024 West Coast Winter Championship, 5th at 2024 BVCA Pairs West Coast Championships
- Hixson has come into her own as an impact player on the beach as her high school career progressed.
- She recorded top-10 finishes at a number of events this year, including third in U18s at the BVCA Individual Pairs Nationals
- She is one of three 2024 AVCA Junior Beach All-Americans who has committed to California.
VIVIAN JOHNSON (Madsand)
Hometown: Dallas, TX
College Commitment: Texas
Notable Tournament Finishes: 2nd 2024 BVCA Individual Pairs Nationals, 1st at 2024 BVCA 210 Beach Club Challenge, 1st at 2024 Huntington Beach Invitational
- Johnson has enjoyed a great past six months on the beach, earning top-2 finishes at five different events.
- She also has been on the p1440 Fab 50 junior beach list for the Class of 2024.
HAYLEE LaFONTAINE (Spiker Beach Volleyball Club)
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
College Commitment: Cal Poly
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at 2024 BVCA West Coast Championships, 9th at 2024 BVCA Individual Pairs Nationals
- LaFontaine has been a force for Spiker Beach Volleyball, especially in club v. club play.
- She was part of all three teams that got bronze medals at the CvC Nationals in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
- She and Spiker Beach Volleyball teammate, and fellow 2024 Junior Beach All-American, Summer Witherby will play at Cal Poly.
Martin Suan, Spiker Beach Volleyball
“Haylee has been a key contributor in Spiker Beaches black squad in club vs club. She was a dominant player for Huntington Beach High School’s beach and indoor teams, earning all-conference honors in both.”
ADELINA OKAZAKI (Point Loma HS)
Hometown: San Diego, CA
College Commitment: UCLA
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at 2024 AVP Junior Nationals, 3rd at BVCA Pairs West Coast Championships, 2nd at p1440 West Coast Winter Championships
- Okazaki has enjoyed a great 2024 season, which has included top-3 finishes at many major events.
- She will take her skills to UCLA and join the powerful Bruin program.
LOGAN TUSHER (ValleyGirls Beach Volleyball)
Hometown: Belvedere, CA
College Commitment: Stanford
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at 2024 BVCA Individual Pairs Nationals, 3rd at 2024 AVP Junior Nationals, 1st at CBVA Women’s Open-Santa Cruz
- Tusher has made quite a name for herself throughout her high school beach career.
- She has numerous top-5 finishes on her beach resume, including a pair of wins at 2024 events.
- She is one of five 2024 AVCA Junior Beach All-Americans who has committed to Stanford.
SUMMER WITHERBY (Spiker Beach Volleyball Club)
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
College Commitment: Cal Poly
Notable Tournament Finishes: 1st at 2024 BVCA West Coast Championships, 2nd at 2024 p1440 West Coast Championships, 9th at 2024 BVCA Individual Pairs Nationals, 1st in 2024 AVP Junior National Championship
- She and Spiker Beach Volleyball teammate Haylee LaFontaine both are 2024 Junior Beach All-Americans.
- Witherby was part of all 2022, 2023, and 2024 Spiker teams that earned bronze medals at the Club v Club Nationals.
Martin Suan, Spiker Beach Volleyball
“Summer has been a major contributor to Spiker Beach Black Club Squad since we started in 2022. She earned gold medals in 3 Club challenge rounds, and was part of our bronze-medal teams in BVCA CvC Nationals.”
