On Thursday, Jan. 16, the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) named senior Jada Aksu the DCSAA Volleyball Player of the Year and selected Aksu for the DCSAA All-State First Team. This is Aksu’s fourth consecutive year receiving an All-State award.
The award was her second major accolade this month; On Jan. 9, she was named the 2024–25 Gatorade District of Columbia Volleyball Player of the Year, an award given each year to the most successful high school student-athlete in their respective sport and state.
Aksu is the second GDS volleyball player ever to win the award. She won it just a year after Clara Yu ’24, a former GDS setter and current player on the Columbia University volleyball team. Aksu was also selected to be a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Third Team All-American.
The recognitions came after a dominant season for Aksu, a right-side hitter who had 281 kills—the second-most in a season in GDS history—and 97 digs this past season. On Nov. 13, she officially committed to play volleyball at the Division I level for Lafayette College. Four days earlier, Aksu captained GDS to a 3–0 win over St. John’s in the DCSAA AA state championship, in which she recorded 16 kills. AA is the highest division in the DCSAA. This is Aksu’s third straight state championship at GDS.
Many of her teammates were recognized for their seasons as well. Senior Shiraz Benyoucef, junior Fiona McDermott and sophomore Caycee Chhum were selected for the DCSAA First Team alongside Aksu, while senior Zoe Ryu was named to the Second Team. Senior Liz Higday and sophomore Zora Dimbo received honorable mentions.
Cheryl Weaver, head coach of the Bullis volleyball team, said Aksu posed a unique threat in games. “We played them several times over the course of several seasons and our game plan was definitely focused on containing her,” she said. “She can hit shots and take angles as a lefty on the right side that a lot of players can’t.”
GDS varsity volleyball head coach Brandon Wiest, who was the DCSAA Coach of the Year in 2024, told the Bit that Aksu is “deserving of all of the accolades she’s received, and it came with a lot of hard work,” and said she is always able to “get the job done.”
During her four years at GDS, Aksu has thrived in big games and high-pressure situations. In 2024, GDS beat Flint Hill, marking Flint Hill’s first loss to an Independent School League team in over 10 years. Leading up to the game, GDS was relying on her to excel during the game. “For us to win, Jada was going to need to have a big game,” Wiest said. “Our game plan was centered around trying to get her the ball.” Aksu did just that, leading her team with 10 kills, resulting in their first of two victories over Flint Hill that season.
Wiest said, as captain, Aksu was always able to “elevate the play of others, knowing when to lock in and getting things done.”
Aksu said the team’s “love for the sport and how we’re all just super dedicated” played a role in their success. “I just love the competitive spirit that our team has,” Aksu added. “I won’t really be comparing myself to another player or another student, but just comparing myself to my previous self so I can keep improving.” Aksu finished her tenure on the GDS team with a career 89–12 record, a win rate of 88%.
Aksu said she credits much of her success to “everyone around me that pushes my team and me,” and said Wiest specifically “has really been there and advocated for me.”
Aksu said the Gatorade Player of the Year Award was especially significant to her. “I felt like it was something that I’ve wanted ever since 8th grade when I met this girl who had won it,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God. This is so cool.’”
Aksu said her favorite memories from high school weren’t limited to the quantifiable accomplishments. “The wins were great and we had a really successful season, all four seasons, but I think what was really valuable was all the moments with my teammates that created a bond, a really good community and culture,” she said.
As for the next four years, she hopes to continue her impact on the sport as she continues her career at Lafayette. “My goals are to get the most out of my college experience and also bring this level of competitiveness that I’ve had in club and high school to my college,” she explained. Aksu also said she aspires to “stay focused throughout.”