Taggart, Gilliand Named to KVCA All-State Team
The Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association announced its 2026 All-State Team on Monday, including Christian County's Madysen Taggart as a Second Team selection.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Volleyball
The Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association announced its 2026 All-State Team on Monday. Christian County High School senior Madysen Taggart was named Second Team All-State, and Bowling Green High School's Chayse Gilliand was named First Team All-State.
Why it matters
The honors recognize top high school volleyball players across Kentucky as the state tournament gets underway. Taggart's selection follows her designation as Region 2 Player of the Year by the region's coaches.
Taggart entered the state tournament with 349 kills, 64 blocks and 71 digs, while Gilliand had 357 kills, 14 assists, 73 aces and 211 digs. Both players are listed at 6 feet tall.
The players
Madysen Taggart
A senior middle blocker for Christian County High School and the Lady Tigers, who stands 6 feet tall and was named Second Team All-State.
Chayse Gilliand
An outside hitter for Bowling Green High School, who stands 6 feet tall and was named First Team All-State.
Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association
The statewide organization of volleyball coaches that selects and announces the annual All-State Team.
The details
Taggart, a middle blocker for the Lady Tigers, was named Region 2 Player of the Year before earning Second Team All-State honors. Henderson County's Evangeline "Sarah" Loffland is the only other Region 2 player named to the All-State Team.
Timeline
Monday: Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association announces 2026 All-State Team.
Last week: Taggart is named Region 2 Player of the Year.
Monday night: Taggart's Christian County team faces McCracken County in the first round of the KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament.
Season Trajectory
The All-State recognitions arrive as the KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament begins, placing Taggart and Gilliand's season statistics on display at the moment the state championship bracket is set. Statewide honors like these reflect the regional and tournament performance that determines the state's top-ranked programs.
The All-State selections give fantasy and recruiting observers a concrete reference point for Taggart's and Gilliand's season production. For the programs involved, the honors add a statewide credential to players whose kill and dig totals are now part of the state tournament record.
The takeaway
Statewide recognition often follows a full season of production across multiple tournament rounds, so the All-State list is a useful snapshot of which players drove their teams deep into the postseason. Readers tracking the tournament can use these stat lines as a baseline for comparing performances as the bracket advances.
What happens next
The Christian County and Bowling Green programs continue play in the KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament, with further matches to follow.
Further reading
Explore more Kentucky high school volleyball coverage for context on the state's top programs and players.
