Houston Area Five Players to Watch: 6A – District 23
The high school volleyball season is set to start in just a few weeks in the state of Texas and after a quick break following the conclusions of the club season, we can’t wait any longer to watch the top…
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Continue ReadingThe high school volleyball season is set to start in just a few weeks in the state of Texas and after a quick break following the conclusions of the club season, we can’t wait any longer to watch the top prospects of the Lone Star State in action again.
There will be several thousand players in action across the 1,207 high school teams that compete in the six divisions of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and among them, there are some very talented ones, who certainly have a bright future in the sport.
As we continue to preview what the high school season will look like in the Houston area, we shift our focus from teams to players and highlight five of the most intriguing prospects in the districts located in the region.
Join us as we navigate Division 6A – District 23:
Ana Garza Ana Garza 5'11" | OH Alvin | 2023 State TX – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter – Alvin – Club: AVA – 2023
Easily one of the best players in the district, Ana Garza Ana Garza 5'11" | OH Alvin | 2023 State TX spent the last club season playing middle for her AVA team but will most likely line up as an outside hitter for Alvin. That’s because although the offense is the most eye-popping area of her game, Garza is extremely versatile and well-rounded and is capable of helping the team in a lot of different ways. A six-footer, she’s very physical and powerful when hitting, but also gets to produce in high volume on the backcourt. Last season, she had 382 kills, 387 digs, 376 passes, 46 blocks and 27 aces.
Ava Kennon – Middle Blocker – Dawson – Club: Houston Juniors – 2023
A strong presence in the middle, Ava Kennon will be tasked with leading a significant rebuild in her Dawson team. Extremely quick and athletic, the 5’10” Kennon is extremely productive on offense with her combo of strong approach, excellent jumping ability and quick arm. She can hit a lot of different sets and is hard to stop due to her ability to hit in every direction. Kennon was a force last season, when she had 236 kills and 61 blocks.
Mackenzie Collins – Middle Blocker – Shadow Creek – Club: Houston Juniors – 2025
Mackenzie Collins emerged as a very promising middle blocker in the last high school season and her excellent performances with her Houston Juniors teams during the club season moved her up some levels. A six-footer, she’s extremely athletic and mobile and plays the game of volleyball in an almost absurd rhythm, making her presence felt time and time again down the middle. Collins, who’s also an awarded track and field student-athlete, had a stellar production of 277 kills and 101 blocks last season and seems poised for even more in 2022-2023.
Big swing and kill by Mackenzie Collins of @houstonjuniors – she might be the most explosive middle in the field.
Lights and HJV going to set three pic.twitter.com/ckLUfZzDbm
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) June 29, 2022
Maddie Dement – Libero – Pearland – Club: AVA – 2025
Not many defensive players are capable of impacting a volleyball match as much as Maddie Dement does. The 5’2” libero was an excellent addition to her Pearland team, helping stabilize the team’s backcourt with her great mobility and ball control. Dement has great strength in her lower body and she makes great use of it to track balls and dive on defense. Her high concentration level and superior technique complete her excellent package, which produced 374 digs, 654 passes and 26 aces during the last high school season.
Nina McCoy – Outside Hitter – Alief Elsik – 2023
An electric outside hitter who produced in every area of the game, Nina McCoy has been a key player for Alief Elsik over the years. The 5’9” outside hitter has very good technique and does a very job with her ball control too. McCoy places her shots well at the net and is extremely reliable with her passing and defense. She ended last season with 219 kills, 304 digs, 443 passes and 46 aces to her name.