Season in Review – UIL 1A: The Special Defenders
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…
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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. In this article, we’ll highlight some of the top defenders of the division.
Kayden Arrington – Libero – Blum – 2024
Kayden Arrington made a massive impact on Blum’s game immediately after her arrival. A super technical player, the 5’3” libero made the Lady Cats’ defensive efforts a lot more efficient with her superior reading and outstanding ball control. Arrington, who’s also a very good beach player, led Blum in digs in the season with 358 to an average of five per set. She kept the same level of production at the State Championship final, when she avoided 15 points from eventual winners Neches. Her strong performances during the entire season took her to the All-Tournament team as the only libero selected and also to the first team of the All-State team according to the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA).
Kacie Kimbrough – Middle-Blocker/Outside Hitter – Neches – 2021
Kacie Kimbrough was arguably the most complete and versatile player in the division last season, one of the reasons why she was awarded as the All-State Player of the Year by the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA). The 5’10” middle-blocker is capable of influencing the game in a variety of ways and her stats at the State Championship final, which saw her produce 15 kills, three aces and two blocks for Neches, reinforce that feeling. The most telling number she had that evening, however, was 19 digs, the most by any player in the match against Blum, and a good sample of the 265 she registered over the course of the season. An All-Tournament team selection, Kimbrough will remain in the Lone Star state for the next stage of her career as she committed to the University of Texas at Tyler.
Michelle Jamaica – Outside Hitter – Leverett’s Chapel – 2021
Michelle Jamaica’s game as an outside hitter brought a lot of value to Leverett’s Chapel during the team’s 2020 campaign. If her numbers at the net were decent, her production at the backcourt was nothing short of impressive as Jamaica 328 digs for the Lady Lions in just 70 sets – in 2019, she tallied 707 in 126 sets. Her great technique and impressive reading of the game and positioning earned her an honorable mention at the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) All-State team.