ORLANDO, Fla. (WCIA) — Ava Yeakel earned All-American honors at the 2025 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships.

The incoming senior at MSHS played a key role in the Bulldogs’ first-ever state title run in volleyball last fall.

She’s weighing her options to play in college, holding offers from schools like Roosevelt University, Heartland, and Parkland, among others.

Yeakel said she’s seen big progress in her game over the past year, aided by plenty of practice outside of the fall season.

“Perhaps it’s just me getting more accustomed to my body and deepening my understanding of the sport. Volleyball is definitely a sport where experience matters immensely,” Yeakel remarked. “The more you play, the more contact you have with the ball, and the more your experience and volleyball intelligence improve.” “I genuinely believe that I’ve significantly improved over the years, and excellent coaching has played a huge role, so I must give credit to them as well.”