High School Spotlight: Cypress Falls Golden Eagles
The high school volleyball season is underway in Texas and talented young players have been showcasing their skills in every corner of the Lone Star state. One of our missions at Prep Dig is to highlight as many teams and…
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Continue ReadingThe high school volleyball season is underway in Texas and talented young players have been showcasing their skills in every corner of the Lone Star state.
One of our missions at Prep Dig is to highlight as many teams and prospects as possible around the state, from State Championship contenders and household names to underdogs and special talents who might be flying under-the-radar.
We spend a lot of time at the gyms gathering information and watching matches and will use this space to highlight some of the teams and players we got to watch in person. Today we present you the Cypress Falls Golden Eagles.
Cypress Falls Golden Eagles
Representing the Cypress Falls High School, the Golden Eagles are part of the Class 6A, Region III – District 16. Longtime head coach Kathy Stephenson, who recently celebrated the 700th win of her career, has led the team to a 13-16 record in preseason before dropping their first district match to Cypress Woods.
Congratulations to our varsity volleyball team! They won consolation at the CCISD tournament. #nextmanup #eaglepride #team #WeAreONE pic.twitter.com/sa1WotbsBF
— Cy Falls Volleyball (@cypressfallsVB) September 5, 2021
Players to Watch:
Mariana Buchanan Mariana Buchanan 5'10" | RS Cy Falls | 2024 State TX – Outside Hitter – Club: Houston Juniors – 2024
A high-flying prospect from the class of 2024, Mariana Buchanan Mariana Buchanan 5'10" | RS Cy Falls | 2024 State TX is the Golden Eagles’ go-to scoring option. Ranked 27th on our 2024 Prep Dig State Rankings, she uses her length and superior athleticism to be in position to score and is surprisingly effective when out of system, finding unlikely angles and openings in the block. Nominated to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Phenom List, the 5’10” Buchanan seems to be only scratching the surface of her offensive potential. She’s mostly used on the right on her club team Houston Juniors and produces just as much. She leads the Golden Eagles in kills (302) and ranks second in passes (341) and digs (210).
Alyssa Finister – Middle Blocker – Club: Houston Juniors – 2022
Alyssa Finister is a force at the net for the Golden Eagles. The 5’10” middle blocker is extremely athletic and gets to impact both sides of the game with her strong and consistent play. Finister moves really well at the net and is always able to put her big block in front of opposing hitters. On offense, she’s really difficult to stop because she hits a really quick set and usually sends it just a few inches from the end line, not giving blockers or defenders enough time to react. She can also pass and hit from the left if needed and leads Cypress Falls in blocks (62) and aces (34), besides ranking second in kills (182).
Abbie Smith – Libero – Club: Texas Tornados – 2022
A reliable libero is a valuable asset for any volleyball team and the Golden Eagles have just that in Abbie Smith. The hard-working, 5’2” libero does a great in coordinating the team’s defensive system and is a vocal leader and source of information for her teammates. Extremely quick, Smith is a solid passer and even better defender. She leads the team in both categories with 522 passes and 415 digs and also ranks third in aces with 20.