If there’s one thing this year’s Deseret News Players of the Year have in common, it’s that they all stay cool under pressure.
Some did it offensively, some defensively, but all five led their team to a state championship match, four of which ended in championship titles.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Deseret News boys volleyball Players of the Year.
6A Player of the Year
JJ Faiivae, Bingham, OH/MB, Jr.
Bingham had an argument for much of the season as the best team in the state. The Miners held a 23-3 record and earned a 6A runner-up finish. They have junior JJ Faiivae to thank for much of their success this year.
While Faiivae can certainly hit the ball, what makes him special is his versatility. He played outside hitter, opposite hitter and middle blocker for Bingham. He did so while tallying 279 kills and hitting .338.
But he was also effective defensively, with 68 blocks and passing 2.43. Faiivae added 25 aces throughout the year.
Just a junior, Faiivae will have another year to fight for another state championship with the Miners next year.
“JJ Faiivae is one of the most versatile players I have ever coached,” said Bingham coach Ben Chamberlain. “During the season, JJ played games at middle blocker, outside hitter and opposite. He excels wherever he is needed. JJ does a fantastic job of applying feedback that has been given. He will try to implement it immediately, regardless of the outcome or if he disagrees with the coaching. Whichever college lands him will gain a star.”
5A Player of the Year
Landon Chism, Bountiful, OH/S, Sr.
Bountiful had something special in Landon Chism, and a late change in the season unlocked him.
For most of the season, Chism played setter. The RedHawks were undefeated until a match with Wasatch in early April.
Following the match, coach Sarah Chism moved him from setter to outside hitter. That decision arguably won Bountiful a championship, as it avenged its 5A crown loss to Wasatch.
He ended that match with 14 kills, four aces and two blocks.
“Landon was a steady force behind our team’s success all season long,” Sarah Chism said. “His leadership, consistency, versatility and confidence in pressure situations helped elevate the play of our team when it mattered most.
“Over and over, he stepped up with big plays in the biggest moments, making him an invaluable part of our state championship run. His impact went far beyond the stat sheet, helping shape the culture, confidence and success of our team throughout the season.”
Landon Chism’s versatility is easy to see in his season stats. He finished with 215 kills, dished out 514 assists, and pulled up 178 digs.
He also added 53 aces and 37 blocks for the 5A champions.
4A Player of the Year
Adam Maya, Mountain View, S, Sr.
Mountain View has come a long way from playing in the first-ever UHSAA-sanctioned boys volleyball match in 2024. This year, the Bruins finally got over the hump and brought home a 4A state title, and setter Adam Maya set up his teammates as well as anyone.
Maya’s 888 assists certainly stand out, but what sets him apart is his ability to calm his team and get them in their spots. That was especially true in the 4A championship against Desert Hills, which Mountain View won 3-2.
“Adam Maya was one of our captains and our setter this year,” said coach Jon Fairbanks. “He did an incredible job distributing the ball and running one of the fastest offenses in 4A. He was very talented at finding mismatches and feeding hot hitters to give our team the best chances to win.
“He is very smart and competitive and was known for making very difficult and sometimes one-handed sets that were spectacular. He is also a great server and led our team in aces and points won. Adam was a huge part of our state championship season.”
Alongside his ability to set up the offense, Maya also added 41 aces, 123 digs and 27 blocks.
3A Player of the Year
Kevin Wangsgard, Morgan, Opp, Sr.
This year’s 3A championship match clearly showed that Morgan opposite Kevin Wangsgard is among the most lethal hitters in the state.
Wangsgard led the Trojans to a second-consecutive state title, and did so while hitting 21 kills with a .377 hitting percentage.
Wangsgard was already 3A all-state first team-caliber, but he only increased his production his senior year. He ended the year with 427 kills while hitting .271.
“Kevin has some phenomenal physical gifts,” said coach Kyle Komenda. “After he had such a great year in 2025, we knew he had the potential for great things this season. My challenge to him was to really embrace the role of a leader, as our No. 1 guy, especially with so many younger guys on the roster.”
The Trojans struggled to start the season. They scheduled the toughest non-region schedule in 3A, and started with a 4-8 record.
After that point, Morgan went 16-3, which included its 3A championship win.
“We started this season a little slower than we had expected, but peaked as a team right when it mattered,” said Komenda. “A ton of credit for that goes to Kevin and his leadership. The rest of the team really fed off of his example and energy and with Kevin playing the way he did during the state tournament, we felt unstoppable. I could not have been prouder of the way he finished his career at Morgan. He deserves this recognition.”
Wangsgard did more than just hit; he also had 121 blocks and led 3A with 71 aces.
2A Player of the Year
Elijah Johnson, Salt Lake Academy, OH, Sr.
The Year 2026 was the first season that featured 2A boys volleyball. The past two years, Salt Lake Academy played up in 3A and had success.
The Griffins lost in the 3A quarterfinals in 2024 and the semis in 2025; however, they had a dominant year in 2A and won their first state championship, and Elijah Johnson was there to lead the way.
Johnson led 2A with 311 kills, 23 of which he scored in the 2A championship match against American Heritage.
“Elijah only picked up volleyball last season, but he quickly developed into an elite blocker for us as an opposite hitter,” said Salt Lake Academy coach Brogan Johnson. “This season, we needed him to take on a much bigger role as an outside hitter, and he stepped up to the challenge.
“He put in a lot of time during the offseason and outside of practice, working with teammates to become a more confident passer and a more aggressive hitter. By the end of the season, Eli was our most lethal offensive weapon at the net, leading our team with 313 kills while hitting .202.”
Despite being relatively new to volleyball, he could pass and serve. Elijah Johnson pulled up 171 digs for the Griffins and served 54 aces. He also added 17 blocks and passed 2.14.
“He also finished as one of our top passers and servers,” Johnson said. “It has been exciting to watch his growth, from just learning the sport, to becoming an important defensive piece in our third-place 3A finish last season, to developing into an integral six-rotation, all-around contributor who helped lead our team to a championship this year.”