CHICAGO – University of Evansville volleyball commit Wren Jones earned a prestigious honor today as she was announced as the 2025-26 Gatorade Arkansas Volleyball Player of the Year following her final season at Conway High School.
 
Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation's best high school athletes for their excellence in sport, academics and community. The award recognizes Jones as Arkansas' best high school volleyball player, and she joins an elite legacy that spans professional athletes and coaches to CEOs, such as Kerri Walsh Jennings (1995-96, Archbishop Mitty High School, CA), April Ross (1999-00, Newport Harbor High School, CA) and Campbell Flynn (2024-25, Mercy High School, MI). 
 
"Winning a Gatorade Player of the Year award puts Wren in elite company, and we couldn't be prouder of her," University of Evansville head volleyball coach Zach Weinberg said. "Winning this award goes beyond what she does on the court; it highlights her academics, her service to her community, and most importantly, her exemplary character. Wren is a phenomenal volleyball player, but an even better human being, and we couldn't be happier that she is an Ace!"
 
The 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter led the Wampus Cats to a 30-5 record and the Class 6A state championship this past season. Jones compiled 543 kills and 252 digs, including 25 kills and 16 digs in a 3-1 win over Fayetteville High School in the state final. Jones also recorded 51 service aces and 36 blocks while posting a .451 kill percentage. The MVP of the Class 6A state championship match, she concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,228 kills. 
 
Jones has volunteered locally with Community Connections, a nonprofit that works with special needs children. She has also donated her time as a youth volleyball coach and as part of multiple community service initiatives through her church youth group.
 
Jones has maintained a weighted 3.29 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play volleyball at the University of Evansville this fall. 
 
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one state winner from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. In total, 610 high school athletes are honored each year. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the winners in each sport.