Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Virginia High School League has announced its 2025 Class 2 All-State volleyball team. Radford senior setter Mattox Adams is the Class 2 Player of the Year, and Radford head coach Karen Adams is the Class 2 Coach of the Year.
As the setter, the 5-7 Adams spread out the offense and remained an offensive threat for the Bobcats. She finished the season with 764 assists, 401 digs, 42 aces (97.5% serving), 51 blocks, and 61 kills while leading the Bobcats to the Class 2 state title. She ended her career with 2,267 assists and 1,206 digs.
The Region 2C POY and Three Rivers District POY, Adams also earned second-team all-state selection in 2024. Additionally, she earned first-team all-region honors as a junior and second-team recognition as a sophomore and was named to the first-team all-district for three consecutive years. Adams remained uncommitted.
Adams led Radford to a 25-1 record and her program’s third state title since taking over the Bobcats in 2017. Her 2025 team ended the season on a 24-match winning streak. Her team claimed title number three with a 3-1 (25-20, 25-19, 16-25, 25-23) win over Fort Defiance in the Class 2 finals at the Salem Civic Center. Her teams won back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019 and were runners-up in 2017. She owns a 150-54 (.735%) career record in nine seasons leading the Bobcats.
The all-state volleyball team consists of nine position players and one libero. Only those players selected to the all-region first-team are eligible for selection to the all-state team. The all-state selection committee comprises eight coaches, with two from each region.
Adams was joined on the first team by teammates Jaylin Holt and Briana Dobbins. Lillian Joyce was named to the second-team.
Christiansburg High School finished the regular volleyball season undefeated and won the regional crown and fell in the state semi-finals. This past week, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) announced Christiansburg senior Ela Shepherd as the Class 3 player of year. Her coach Morgan Taylor was named Class 3 coach of the year.
The 5-10 Shepherd received her third straight selection to the Class 3 all-state first team. She finished the season with 365 kills, 525 assists, 11 solo blocks, 50 assisted blocks, 289 digs, and 54 service aces this past season. As a Radford University signee, she played a key role in helping Christiansburg to 28 straight wins before a 3-1 loss to Abingdon in a hard-fought state final, where she tallied 19 kills and 20 assists.
Taylor led Christiansburg to a 28-1 record and its first-ever trip to the state finals after reaching the state semifinals in each of the past two seasons. After serving as the Blue Demons assistant coach for three years, Taylor took over the program and has a 51-5 overall record (.911%) and one Region 3D championship.
The all-state volleyball team consists of nine position players and one libero. Only those players selected to the all-region first-team are eligible for selection to the all-state team. The all-state selection committee comprises eight coaches, with two from each region.
Shepherd was joined on the first team by teammates, Blair Self and Reese Hall. Ellie Eddleton was named to the second-team.
Auburn placed two players to the Class 1 all-state team. Leah Wimmer was joined by Jaci Morrill. Eastern Montgomery’s Maci Akers and Auburn’s Kaylen Mitchem was named to the second-team.
