Boy, I thought I was so smart.

Last year, I revealed my "2018 Dazzling Dozen" state volleyball awards, simply (and ignorantly) keeping it down to the Top 24 players that I saw with my own eyes.

I will tell anyone who will listen: Texas has the greatest volleyball players in the country. Period. And keep in mind I have access to the knowledge of hundreds of coaches around the state; to Josh Koch of VYPE Houston; and, to the greatest Texas High School volleyball mind around, Butch Hart of the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

So my "ignorance" from last year is the fact I only named 24 of the best players that I saw. There's just too many great players to keep any list down to a Top 24. To make amends (to myself, mostly), I expanded the 2019 Dazzling Dozen to five Superlative Awards; first, second and third teams; and, a dozen honorable mentions.

Remember: there's no politics in my choices. These are players I saw in person (thanks to the great folks at VYPE Media, I got to watch over 150 teams compete); there's no "spreading the love," in trying to get as many teams and players mentioned as possible.

Just the best of the best.

Thus, my Dazzling Dozen: the best players whom I saw this season that leave everything out on the court. Not that others didn't but these are the ones who made a big impression on me. These are the student-athletes whom I'd pick if I were heading up a volleyball team (or two).

And yes, since these are my personal choices, you're welcome to give me your thoughts directly – hit me up at chuck.licata@vypemedia.com

Chuck Licata's 2019 Volleyball Dazzling Dozen

...

Superlative Awards

Player, School (Year) Coach

...

Co-Players of the Year:

Payton Chamberlain, Byron Nelson (Jr) Brianne Groth

Paige Flickinger, Byron Nelson (Sr) Brianne Groth

Hitter of the Year:

Kaylee Cox, Flower Mound (Jr) Jamie Siegel

Setter of the Year:

Averi Carlson, Lovejoy (Jr) Ryan Mitchell

Utility Player of the Year:

Avery Kalsu, Dripping Springs (Sr) Michael Kane

Libero of the Year:

Sarah Martinez, Flower Mound (Jr) Jamie Siegel

...

**First Team

Hitters/Middles

Cecily Bramschreiber, Lovejoy (Jr) Ryan Mitchell

Charitie Luper, Byron Nelson (Jr) Brianne Groth

Dylan Maberry, The Woodlands (Sr) Teri Wade

Iman Ndiaye, Plano West (Sr) Justin Waters

Grayson Schirpik, Rouse (Sr) Jacob Thompson

Annabelle Smith, Southlake Carroll (Sr) Teresa Dunn

Setters

Clara Brower, The Woodlands (Jr) Teri Wade

Reagan Rutherford, Ridge Point (Sr) Lauryn Bailey

Utility

Jill Pressly, Plano West (Sr) Justin Waters

Brooke Slusser, Guyer (Jr) Heather Van Noy

Libero

Gia Santini, Byron Nelson (Sr) Brianne Groth

Callie Kemohah, Lovejoy (Jr) Ryan Mitchell

...

**Second Team

Hitters/Middles

Ally Batenhorst, Seven Lakes (Jr) Amy Cataline

Ellie Echter, Fulshear (Jr) Syndey Gotcher

Brianna Ford, Randall (Sr) Haleigh Burns

Samantha Jacobs, Prosper (Sr) Erin Kauffman

Claire Jeter, Ridge Point (Sr) Lauryn Bailey

Makensy Manbeck, Friendswood (Sr) Sarah Paulk

Shelby O'Neal, Clemens (Sr) Robyn Wunderlich

Setters

Lexi Moody, Crawford (Sr) Jeff Coker

Tori Weatherley, Friendswood (Sr) Sarah Paulk

Libero

Reilly Heinrich, Rouse (Sr) Jacob Thompson

Nia McCardell, Ridge Point (Sr) Lauryn Bailey

Utility

Annie Antar, Klein (Jr) Kate Zora

...

**Third Team

Hitters/Middles

Angelique Cyr, Flower Mound (Jr) Jamie Siegel

Alexis Dacosta, Fulshear (Soph) Sydney Gotcher

Kylann Griffith, Vanderbilt Industrial (Sr) Kelsey Vasquez

Jaelyn Grimm, Cedar Park (Sr) Lori McLaughlin

Alicia Hearn, Sachse (Sr) Rikki Jones

Alexia Jones, Dawson (Jr) Lauren Leth

Libby Overmyer, Kingwood Park (Sr) Kelly Mizer

Lexi Rogers, Neches (Jr) Morgan Roberson

Anne Williams, Crawford (Sr) Jeff Coker

Setter

Kenzie Beckham, Westwood (Jr) Tara Grant

Utility

Emma Becker, Liberty Hill (Soph) Gretchen Peterson

Libero

Maddie Correa, SA (Sr) Reagan Rachel Torvik

...

Honorable Mention

Delaney Dilfer, Vandegrift (Sr) Melissa Southall

Kara Erfurth, Rouse (Sr) Jacob Thompson

Emery Herman, Georgetown (Sr) Jenny Richardson

Chloe Jordan, Pearland (Sr) Christian Dunn

Alessandra Meoni, Friendswood (Jr) Sarah Paulk

Audrey Quesnel, Westwood (Sr) Tara Grant

Kamryn Scroggins, Dawson (Soph) Lauren Leth

Annie Stadthaus, Vandegrift (Sr) Melissa Southall

Kyndal Stowers, Guyer (Fr) Heather Van Noy

Ryann Torres, Hays (Sr) Ashley Davis

Ragan Ward, Waxahachie (Sr) Sandy Faussett

Jamison Wheeler, Lake Travis (Jr) Brandace Boren