TIME TO SHINE: H-Town well-represented in State Final Four
With teams such as Grand Oaks, Cinco Ranch, and Fulshear making their way to Garland, TX this weekend, the potential for a championship is within their grasp. Inevitably, the climax to this year should be nothing less than a spectacle to witness.
OVERLOOKED NO LONGER: Adcock, Stratford thriving in the spotlight
After graduating eight seniors off last yearโs team, including the District-MVP Skylar George, whoโs currently at Utah, what has been the motivation for coach Jennifer Adcockโs group, as Stratford (28-6) has ascended the rankings of H-Town volleyball?
RAMPING IT UP: District-play shows whoโs who in Updated Volleyball Rankings
Throughout their respective divisional matchups, Grand Oaks, Cinco Ranch and Stratford continue to dominate the Class 6A scene. Meanwhile, teams like College Park, Tompkins, Fort Bend Austin and Seven Lakes are re-establishing themselves as serious contenders.
THE CAPTAIN: Davis relishes leadership role
Davis has become one of the more exemplary athletes in the district during her tenure with the program, hence her first-team, all-district selection in 2022. However, her journey would indicate that the skill she possesses didnโt just appear out of nowhere.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: VYPE Public/Private School Pre-District Volleyball Rankings
Grand Oaks remains to be THE team to beat in Class 6A, but fellow super-powers--Cinco Ranch, Langham Creek, Tompkins, and others--could give them a run for their money. Class 5A will likely continue to be dominated by Fulshear, Barbers Hill, and Foster, but don't sleep on the teams hot on their heels.
NOODLE: Udegbunam brings elite athleticism to the court
โDani is such a raw athlete,โ coach Sharonda Marshall said. โI had to push her when I first got here because her body was justโฆ all over the place. Thatโs when she got the nickname. Sheโs stiffened up a lot and has so much poise on the court. She can touch 10-feet, 4-inches and is so aggressive on the front row. Itโs scary.โ
THE LIST: Grand Oaks; Fulshear lead VYPE Volleyball rankings
Greater Houston is led by super-power Grand Oaks in Class 6A, and Fulshear and Barbers Hill in Class 5A. After that, itโs up for grabs. New Cypress Ranch coach Collea McKinney has continued the Mustangsโ success and Cinco Ranch looks formidable in the tough District 19-6A. Foster looks like another contender in Class 5A.
THE PROSPECTUS: Episcopal; FBCA headline private school volleyball
The championship year came in the inaugural season of the Cydrce McMillian-era at Episcopal. The Knights bring back five starters off a 35-7 title team and look to go back-to-back. Mykayla McMillian comes back from an All-SPC campaign for the Knights. Other key returners include All South Zone selections Ally Frailey โ who is committed to play beach volleyball at Santa Clara University โ and Kara Thomas.
THE MIGHTY GRIZZLIES: No. 1 Grand Oaks prepped to go the distance
The list of accolades for Auguste is impressive, including being a part of the US Volleyball National Team Development Program, selected to the USA U19 Team, a TGCA 6A All-State pick and was the District 13-6A Most Valuable Blocker. Auguste finished 2022 with an astonishing 164 blocks, 336 kills and a 63.5 kill percentage.
MUSTANG NATION: No. 2 Friendswood primed to rep Class 5A
Friendswood went 34-12 a year ago and reached the Regional Quarterfinals. Seven of the nine starters for Paulk return in 2023, led by sophomore NadiโYa Shelby, who was named the District 18-5A MVP and the Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association Newcomer of the Year. Shelby led the team in kills with 300 a year ago and vertically can reach 10-feet-6-inches.
POWER SURGE: Warren leads the charge for No. 5 Fulshear
As Sydney Zimmerman (247-81) enters her seventh season of leading the Chargers, she brings back a veteran team considering all her starters a year ago were just sophomores. That group led Fulshear to a 32-10 overall record, an undefeated District Championship, and to the Regional Semifinals.
COOGSโ HOUSE: No. 13 Cinco Ranch will be deadly in 2023
A YEAR AGO, CINCO RANCH WAS ONE WIN AWAY FROM ADVANCING TO THE UIL STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT IN GARLAND. A loss to Tompkins ended the Cougarsโ season in the Region III-6A Championship match. Now, Cinco Ranch will try and get back and beyond in 2023.
THE STAMPEDE: No. 16 Mag West will be a contender in Class 5A
Magnolia West ended up getting the best of its district-mate Magnolia for the last postseason spot. The Mustangs bring back experience. Shannon Dworaczyk is one of the key returners for the โStangs after recording 663 assists, 314 digs and 170 kills in her freshman campaign. Thatโs right, she did that as a freshman.
DYNAMIC DUO: No. 17 Summer Creek led by Larkin; Maxwell
Coach Sarah Aguilar brings back committed athletes Taylor Larkin (Harvard) in the middle and Aspen Maxwell (Missouri) on the outside. Larkin had 100 blocks and Maxwell Kamiryn Edmonds and Angelica Medina will also provide some offense, while Anika Frausto will be the setter. Medina led the team in kills with 256.
YEAR OF THE DEER: Hanson hopes to take Deer Park to new heights
Hanson was the 2022 District MVP as a setter, hitter? The 6-footer is super-dynamic and will surpass 2,000 career assists and 1,000 career kills in the Fall. She also stars on Skylineโs top team during the offseason, where she travels across the country with some of Houstonโs best to battle the nationโs best.
FLY FALCONS FLY: No. 22 Foster has star in Onyechi
The Falcons have a veteran squad coming back led by Princeton-commit Jackie Onyechi, who was a TGCA All-State selection, a GHVCA pre and postseason team selection and the District 20-5A Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. Onyechi finished the year with a team-leading 364 kills and 66 blocks.
TWIST OF FATE: Humphrey primed for final year as the face of SPX Volleyball
Her journey has had some interesting twists and turns, but the 6-foot-3 star has turned out just fine. She is now one of the most feared middles in the state of Texas and will head West to volleyball super-power UCLA next Fall.
BFND: Stingy Cy-Fair comes in at No. 29 of VYPE Rankings
Cy-Fair followed up the regular season success and reached the Area Round before falling in five sets to Ridge Point. As the Bobcats turn the page to 2023, they will have to find some stat-stuffers on offense but will lean on Karina Smith (166 kills) to lead the attack early on.
SUPER SOPH: Shelby the Baby of โFirst Familyโ of Friendswood
Ty Shelby paved the way, leading the Mustang defense on the football field. He now plays for the San Diego Chargers. Then came Braylan Shelby, a 6-foot-5 outside linebacker carved from stone. He has just enrolled at USC.And then there is not-so-little sister NaDiโya Shelby, who may be the best athlete of them all.
LETโS GO โKATS: Concordia Lutheranโs Schluter verbals to SHSU
Concordia Lutheran volleyball is looking even scarier than before with the recent addition of Klein Collins transfer Carleigh Schluter. Over the weekend, the 5-foot-9 setter from Woodlands Revolution officially committed to play for Sam Houston State University when she graduates in 2025.
ROLL THE TAPE: Fort Bend ISD Volleyball 2023 Fall Media Day Hype Video
There is so much fun to be had at a VYPE Media Days! From team and individual pictures, social media shout-outs and video interviews, it is all there for the student-athletes to feel like a superstar. VYPE traveled out to the Fort Bend ISD for their 2023 Fall Media Day.
FAT BOYS PIZZA: Travisโ Kessler leads volleyball; pitches in for golf
Fort Bend Travisโ Rachel Kessler is all in.The school's volleyball coach pitched in and took over the Travis golf team in the middle of the season. She also led the Lady Tiger volleyball team to a 25-12 record last Fall, earning a second-place finish in district play. Kessler did a great job with the golf team this Spring.
Klein Athletes of the Month: White made history, Nissen a star on the pitch
Welcome to our feature - the Klein ISD Athletes of the Month - highlighting some of the best student-athletes in one of the proudest districts in the state of Texas. One girl and one boy will be selected each month representing the independent school district.