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The 2025 Post-Dispatch All-Metro spring series begins with

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All-Metro boys volleyball first team

A 6-foot outside hitter, Campbell took over the mantle as the Spartans’ go-to attacking option from his older brother, who was also an All-Metro first teamer last season. Jason Campbell averaged 4.63 kills a set and served 26 total aces as Howell Central posted a 31-4-2 record and advanced to the Missouri state tournament quarterfinals. A strong six-rotation player, he led the Spartans in serve receive and recorded 262 digs.

Dore, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter, moved to a leadership role in his third season as a starter for the Golden Griffins. Dore blasted 4.29 kills per set, forming a potent one-two attacking punch with teammate Mitch Jugo (4.12 kills) as Vianney went 14-11-1 this season. He also shined on the back row as a leader in serve receive and recorded 157 digs.

The 6-foot-6 Esparza established himself as one of the area’s top outside hitters as one of the key cogs in a high-powered lineup that led the Spartans to a 34-1 record and the Missouri state tournament championship. He averaged a team-high 4.30 kills a set and led the team with 56 total aces. Esparza also was a rock in serve receive and had 155 digs.

A 6-foot-6 middle hitter, Griffon established himself as one of the area’s premier net front presences after a stellar junior season. Griffon’s 1.06 blocks a set average tells half the story. The other half is the number of other attacks from opposing hitters that he altered with his wingspan. Griffon also led the Lancers in kills, averaging 3.04 per set, and served 14 total aces.

Rose, a 6-foot setter, didn’t miss a beat in running the Lancers’ offense after perennial All-Metro hitter August Werner graduated last year. Rose stepped up his game, spreading the ball among five hitters and averaging an area-best 11.03 assists per set as the Southwestern Conference champion Lancers finished with a 26-5 record. He served a team-high 45 aces and also was strong on the back row with 150 digs.

After starting in a three-man rotation with two upperclassmen, the 6-foot setter was given the keys to the Jr. Billikens’ offense late in the season and drove the team to a 22-7 record and an appearance in the Missouri state tournament championship match. Zippay’s high volleyball IQ allowed him to play well beyond his years. He averaged 8.93 assists per set and had totals of 43 aces and 154 digs.

All-Metro boys volleyball second team

Byers, a 6-foot 5 outside hitter, put up prolific numbers despite dealing with sprains to both ankles on subsequent trips to Chicago-area tournaments. Byers averaged 3.65 kills per set and landed 39 total aces. One of the area’s best all-around players, he was a leader on serve receive and had 118 digs.

A four-year starter, this 6-foot-2 setter and right-side hitter become the first player in Mustangs program history to reach 2,000 career assists earlier this season. The versatile Danyluck averaged 6.60 assists while averaging 2.31 kills per set. He put down a team-leading total of 62 aces and had 273 digs.

The 6-foot-5 outside hitter is a returning All-Metro performer. Signed to Maryville University, he averaged 4.81 kills per set and had totals of42 aces and 159 digs. After primarily playing middle blocker for his club team, Martinez shined in serve receive as one of the Pioneers’ primary passers.

Smith, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter, led the Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish in the Missouri state tournament with a 23-8-1 record. A returning All-Metro performer, he averaged 3.15 kills per set, tied for a team-high with a total of 39 aces, was solid on serve receive and had 100 digs. He is committed to Georgetown College (Ky.).

A returning All-Metro performer, the 5-foot-5 setter ran one of the area’s best offenses. Williams averaged 8.88 assists a set, spreading the Spartans attack to four primary hitters. Williams also had totals of 27 aces and had 277 digs on the back row for the GAC South champions.

The 6-foot-2 setter quarterbacked arguably the area’s top offense. Whittle averaged 9.13 assists per set, showing a knack for keeping the opposing block honest by spreading the ball to four attackers. He added totals of 22 aces from the service line and 133 digs.

All-Metro boys volleyball third team

A 6-foot-4 outside hitter, Biggs helped power the Colts to a 20-7-1 record. He averaged 4.22 kills per set, had 21 aces, was a leader on serve receive and posted 139 digs.

A 6-foot-5 outside hitter, Dobbs was part of a large talented group of underclassmen who helped lead the Flyers to a 29-3 mark and a berth in the state quarterfinals. He averaged 3.58 kills and had totals of 20 aces and 148 digs.

This Southwest Baptist-bound defensive dynamo did all of the dirty work that made the Spartans offense so prolific with an outstanding first touch. A 5-foot-7 libero, Luina led team in serve receive and had 423 digs.

This 6-foot setter kept the opposing block constantly guessing by spreading the Crusaders’ offense between five attackers. Neville averaged 9.82 assists per set and had totals of 27 aces and 187 digs.

Reiser was the area’s kills leader with average of 5.62 a set. A 6-foot-2 outside hitter, Reiser also served up team-high total of 50 aces, led Rams in serve receive and also led Rams with 216 digs.

A 6-foot-2 outside hitter, Schall was a strong senior leader for a young Jr. Billikens team that made it to the state championship match. He averaged 2.62 kills, had 39 total aces, led the team in serve receive and had 190 digs.