Season in Review – UIL 1A: The Class of 2022
The high school volleyball season in Texas ended just a couple of months ago and if you followed PrepDig.com’s coverage, you certainly didn’t miss anything that happened when the best teams of the Lone Star state clashed in their State…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe high school volleyball season in Texas ended just a couple of months ago and if you followed PrepDig.com’s coverage, you certainly didn’t miss anything that happened when the best teams of the Lone Star state clashed in their State Championships in Garland.
The champions have all been deservedly recognized, so now we’ll take some time to highlight the most intriguing prospects that stood out during the season with consistent and efficient play for their high schools.
We start with the University Interscholastic League (UIL) 1A Division, which saw Neches secure its third-straight State Championship title. These class of 2022 players had a solid 2020 season and will be looking for more in their final year of high school volleyball.
Kate Barnes – Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist – Sterling City
Kate Barnes certainly plays taller than her 5’5” frame. The Sterling City has outstanding technical skills and she just finds the best way to use them at the net against taller opponents. Barnes is also very calm and consistent, which makes of her an obvious go-to scoring option for the Lady Eagles when matches are on the line. Another interesting potential path for her in the future could be moving permanently to the defensive specialist position, a role she has efficiently performed in the past. Her strong play took her to the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) All-State second team.
Gracie Allen – Middle-Blocker – Blum
Gracie Allen was an important piece of Blum’s team that advanced all the way to the State Championship final. Her offensive game is probably her main asset for the Bobcats as she registered 127 points in kills for the team, being the third-best in that area. Allen has good reach and an interesting ability to avoid the block. Blocking is still a work in progress with only eight points scored before the State Championship, but the three points she had in the final, the highest mark in the match, showed she has a lot of potential to improve.
Emily Carpenter – Outside Hitter – Prairie Valley
Emily Carpenter has consistently been Prairie Valley’s top player in the division. The 5’6” outside hitter has a great all-around game, which is highlighted by a powerful offense that makes her receive the majority of the sets in the team. Carpenter, who also plays basketball for the Lady Bulldogs, has been nominated for Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) All-State team in each of the last two seasons, including a third-team selection in 2020.