Houston Area HS Previews: 6A – District 18
The USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC) has just ended and new national champions have just been crowned in Indianapolis, but the prep volleyball community is already looking ahead to the start of the high school season. Over the…
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Continue ReadingThe USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC) has just ended and new national champions have just been crowned in Indianapolis, but the prep volleyball community is already looking ahead to the start of the high school season.
Over the next four months, prospects will store their club team uniforms in their closets and will represent their high schools with the goal of getting to the end of the year as the new state champions.
The state of Texas has one of the largest high school seasons in the entire country with the University Interscholastic League (UIL) managing a tournament for public schools that features six divisions, 192 districts and as many as 1,207 high school teams.
The start date for the 2022-2023 season is August 8 and between now and then, we’re previewing some of the districts located in the Houston area, highlighting their teams and most promising prospects.
Please join us as we explore Division 6A – District 18:
Bellaire
The Lady Cardinals were the team to beat in district 18 last season and they didn’t hesitate, winning all of their 14 matches to finish at the top. The graduations of high-scoring outside hitter Eliza Konvicka and reliable setter Adeline Lasics will certainly be challenging to deal with, but the team still managed to preserve some interesting pieces in middle blocker Paris Gilmore, right side Auma Mbeche-Odhiambo, outside hitter Sveva Munneke and setter Amanda Roberts.
Chavez
With losses in all their six matches and no sets won, the Lobos will have a long way to go after finishing seventh in district 18 in the 2021-2022 season. The team will be looking to come back stronger with a new roster to win some matches and finish higher on the standings.
Heights
The Lady Bulldogs were the second-best team in the division last season, finishing second in district 18 with 12 wins and two losses, both of them to Bellaire. Outside hitter Kennedi McQueen has graduated but the team has been able to keep most of the core intact with the Hess sisters Madison (setter) and Michaela (outside hitter), middle blocker Austyn Lanclos and libero Hanna Carlsson all returning for another season. They all play together during the club season and that could be another weapon of the team.
Houston Math, Science & Technology
A single win against Westbury was all the Lady Tigers got in 2021-2022. The one victory in eight matches was enough to keep the Houston Math, Science & Technology high school team away from the bottom of district 18, but they will certainly be looking for more in the upcoming season.
Lamar
The Texans came right after the standings last season with their campaign of eight wins and six losses taking them to third place in district 18. The team’s main scorers in 2021-2022, outside hitter Kaylie Victorian and middle blocker Kortni Johnson will both be back, as will the versatile Vivian Chaney Vivian Chaney 5'5" | DS/L Lamar | 2023 State TX , who can play as a setter or a libero, and defensive specialist Joy Parazette.
Westbury
The Lady Huskies are another team that will be looking for a restart after 2021-2022 season that went below expectations. Westbury wasn’t able to win a single set in the entire season and ranked dead last in the eight-team district 18 with eight setbacks.
Westside
The Lady Wolves won three matches last season to rank fourth in district 18 but also managed to take two sets from Lamar, indicating they could perhaps have ended even a little bit higher in the standings. Captains and outside hitters Tyriana Lester and Sidonye Winbush lead a considerable group of graduates, but there are several players with significant upside on the roster, such as setter Kaylynn Lamar, outside hitter Isabella Contreras and defensive specialist Krislyn Green.