Skutt Catholic’s Addison West was on her way to school when she found out that she had been named the 2025-2026 Nebraska Volleyball Gatorade Player of the Year.
“My mom called me and she was like, ‘Have you seen or looked at the website?’” West told NebPreps. “I didn’t even know they were coming out with it that day, so I immediately started crying tears of happiness. It’s a great honor, and it was great.”
The selection committee chooses winners for each state based on three factors: athletic achievement, academic excellence, and exemplary character, including sportsmanship and community involvement.
In her senior year with Skutt, the 6-foot-2 outside hitter helped guide the SkyHawks to the Class B state semifinals while averaging 4.8 kills per set on a .440 hitting percentage and 3.5 digs per set with 38 aces.
In the classroom, she maintained a weighted GPA of 4.2. She also received the Monsignor Eugene Scholarship Award for Outstanding Service to School and Community and has volunteered locally for numerous causes and organizations.
Named an AVCA Second-Team All-American, West is the 78th-ranked volleyball player in her class according to PrepVolleyball.com. The two-time state champion also finished her prep career owning the most kills in program history with 1,612.
“I just want to credit all my teammates, coaches and my parents,” West said. “They’ve been there through it all, they’re the ones who’ve seen everything. They have seen the behind-the-scenes work and all that, so just for them to share that moment is really special. And then my coaches, have all been so great. I’ve played club for Premier Nebraska for eight years, and then I’ve been at Skutt for these four years, and all my coaches have just been so amazing. My teammates have pushed me every day in practice and supported me. So, it’s a great award, and so much of it goes to the people who have been by my side the whole time.”
Although West’s final season with the Skyhawks ended with a loss to Elkhorn North in the semifinals, she got to play alongside some of her best friends, calling it a “full-circle moment” while also learning a lot through that defeat.
“I feel like it’s taught me that volleyball seems so big right now, but volleyball’s only however many years of your life,” West said. “So, I think the lessons throughout the years have been so much more valuable than any medal I’ll win at the end of the year. That was just a really important message, and then just realizing that some of our biggest heartbreaks are from expectations, and we’re so lucky to have played in a program where there’s so much success and so many state championships. It’s just realizing that the true values and memories are what I’ll remember forever.”
West began playing volleyball when she was 10, spending one year at Omaha Volleyball Club before joining Premier Nebraska Volleyball. She said that playing club and for the Skyhawks, has been beneficial in helping her get ready for the next level, especially with the “travel.”
“We we’re able to travel for Skutt, and obviously club we get to travel, so just that part,” West said. “Managing my time with school and volleyball, and I do track, so other sports too, has just really allowed me to manage my time. And then the competition is so great, so I feel like that adjustment, it will obviously be hard because in college everyone’s so good, but I feel like our coaches at Premier and Skutt have done a great job preparing us for that.”
West received an offer from Texas A&M and was also looking at midwestern schools like Creighton, Missouri and Northwestern. She eventually chose the Tar Heels, announcing her verbal commitment on June 30, 2024, and signing with the program on Nov. 12, 2025.
“It’s always been a dream school, I just never thought they would actually look at a girl from the Midwest,” West said. “I don’t know, I just really didn’t think it was that possible, but reaching out to them, I loved their coaches, their staff is great, and all the girls there are so nice. They’re definitely improving, and they do it right. They have their program set on values and I love that. I feel like it’s a lot like Skutt and Premier, very family based. I feel like my younger self would be very proud that I committed to a program that’s based off those things, and I know that when I go there, I’ll have a second family down there.”
While playing for the SkyHawks, West said she’s learned the importance of developing dialogue with others off of the court while also growing on the floor, with big hopes when she joins the Tar Heels.
“My goals are to make an impact from the start, whether that’s a role playing right away or not playing right away,” West said. “Whatever it is, I want to impact the team in a positive way, and then just bring my leadership skills and values that I’ve had here and just never change who I am, no matter where I’m at. So, just staying true to myself and being authentic wherever I’m at.”
For now, West will finish high school before joining North Carolina after she graduates.
“I’m most looking forward to just getting on campus and seeing the girls,” West said. “They’re so fun. Just the school culture in general is very fun. It’s pretty well known, so all the sports teams are pretty good. I just think it will be a great school, culture, and community…
“I just really loved it, so I’m excited.”
