Laura Eichert Claims Second Straight Gatorade Player of the Year Honors
The 3x All State performer and 2025 4A State Champion at Lake Stevens was named the state’s top volleyball player in back-to-back years.
CHICAGO (January 9, 2026) — Gatorade announced Laura Eichert of Lake Stevens High School as the 2025-26 Gatorade Washington Volleyball Player of the Year (POY).
This is Eichert’s second consecutive Gatorade POY honor.
“In my many years of coaching I have never been more happy to see an opponent graduate than Laura Eichert. She combines physical ability, skill and court awareness better than any high school player I’ve ever seen or coached.”
Dave Thron, Head Coach - Glacier Peak High
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 Eichert as Washington’s best high school volleyball player.
She joins Vikings Jacob Eason, Taylor Roe, Jayden Limar and Kolton Matson in the top honor.
As a returning Gatorade State Player of the Year, the 6-foot senior outside hitter led the Vikings to a 33-3 record and the Class 4A state championship this past season — read story, inset below.
Eichert amassed 633 kills and 260 digs, including a 44-kill, 13-dig effort in Lake Stevens’ 3-2 win over Curtis High School in the state final.
She also recorded 72 service aces, 40 blocks and 36 assists while posting a .532 kill percentage and a .422 hitting percentage.
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“If you’re ever in trouble, I’ll be there on the double…Just send for me…If you ever need a helpin’ hand.”
An American Volleyball Coaches Association Third-Team All-American selection, she concluded her prep volleyball career with 2,351 kills.
Eichert has volunteered locally at the Lake Stevens Boys & Girls Club, and she has donated her time as a youth volleyball coach.
“In my many years of coaching I have never been more happy to see an opponent graduate than Laura Eichert,” said Dave Thron, head coach of Glacier Peak High School.
“She combines physical ability, skill and court awareness better than any high school player I’ve ever seen or coached.”
Eichert has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. She is enrolled at the University of Oregon.
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.
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