Texas High School Spotlight – Byron Nelson Bobcats

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the high school season is well underway, we are starting our series of articles on those teams who have been lighting up the stat sheets and scoreboards.&nbsp; We will be highlighting a few teams that have a chance to do something very special this year if it all works out.&nbsp; Today we bring our attention to the Byron Nelson Bobcats out of District 4-6A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bobcats are currently 30-3 overall and 4-2 in district so far on the young season. &nbsp;They have beaten some amazing teams this year in the first part of the season.&nbsp; They are in one of the toughest districts in the state and are getting battle tested in every match.&nbsp; This experience will only help them in the future as they have some young stars who are hungry for victory.&nbsp; We have written about some of these players before and here is a little from our recent articles about them if you need to remember who they are:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='141126' first='Samantha' last='Hoppes']&nbsp;[2023] 6-0 Right Side (HS: Byron Nelson/Club: Drive Nation/Verbal: Boston College)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Samantha is currently listed as the 29^thbest overall prospect and 3^rdbest right side in the 2023 class according to our Prep Dig State Rankings.  Miss Hoppes plays at Byron Nelson HS and also club for Drive Nation.  The reigning 1^st team All-State selection from Prep Dig last year has not stopped her prolific scoring form the right side of the court.  We are watching someone truly show how much a left-handed right side can be difficult to stop if used correctly.  Her size, speed, and skill are on full display for the Bobcats in every rotation.  You cannot stop her.  You just can't.  You can only hope to contain her and slow her down at crucial times.  But she is leading this stout team in kills for a legit reason.  Her left arm is golden and she will be taking that arm to Boston College next year.  But in the meantime, we will sit back and watch the fireworks as she helps this squad on their way to the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180462' first='Sydnee' last='Peterson'] [2025] 5-10 Right Side/Outisde (HS: Byron Nelson/Club: [program_tooltip program_id='431308' first='Texas' last='Advantage'] Volleyball/Verbal: Uncommitted)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sydnee is currently listed as the 30^th best overall prospect in the 2025 class according to our Prep Dig Texas State Rankings.&nbsp; She plays at Byron Nelson high school and also for the [program_tooltip program_id='431308' first='Texas' last='Advantage'] Volleyball club.&nbsp; I wrote an article on her a few months ago and here is what I stated, <em>“I was lucky enough to watch this young lady dominate at the net all club season long from their very first tournament of the year to the last one at nationals and she improved greatly.&nbsp; Dynamic would be one of the best words to describe just how gifted she is.&nbsp; She is very explosive off of the ground and while with her right arm blasting away at every opponent.&nbsp; It will be very hard for pin blockers to shut her down if they don't turn their hands in because of how much power she has with her arm swing.”</em>&nbsp; Now in school ball, she is playing on the left side and still as dominant.&nbsp; This super sophomore is proving that age is just a number.&nbsp; She is showing that she is just as dominant as upperclassmen.&nbsp; Syd has shown so much explosiveness off of the ground and in her arm swing as she is destroying balls with each swing.&nbsp; If the ball could talk, it would just scream in agony with the amount of power she unleashes.&nbsp; I am very interested to know what her vertical is, because it could be one of the best in the state.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320954' first='Kylie' last='Kleckner']&nbsp;[2026] 5-11 Outside (HS: Byron Nelson/Club: [program_tooltip program_id='431308' first='Texas' last='Advantage']/Verbal: Uncommitted)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kylie is currently an unranked prospect in the 2026 Class according to our Prep Dig Texas State Rankings, but that is only because I have not rolled them out yet.&nbsp; She will absolutely be listed once I put it out at the end of the school season.&nbsp; She plays at Byron Nelson High School and also club for [program_tooltip program_id='431308' first='Texas' last='Advantage'] Volleyball. &nbsp; Who says freshman can't be stars?&nbsp; This star is playing like a woman among girls out there as she routinely tallies double-digit kills for her varsity squad.&nbsp; She has a cannon that gets unleashed on the left side for the Bobcats.&nbsp; She is capable of scoring both down the line and cross-court with power.&nbsp; Her abilities extend beyond the indoor scene as she also plays beach volleyball and it helps her overall ball control in every aspect.&nbsp; She will be a power player for the next four years and the future is bright for her.&nbsp; We are going to love covering her for the next four years as she shows just how good she really is.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other notable players for this awesome squad are senior setter Keatyn Rodgers and junior setter Anna Koster.&nbsp; They run the 6-2 offense to perfection and compliment each other well from the back row.&nbsp; Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='176644' first='Campbell' last='Love'] has been phenomenal out of the back row and hasn't let much drop near her zone as she leads the team in digs.&nbsp; Super sophomore middle Rayvyn Thomas and junior middle Nora Conway have been a wall of blockers for this awesome squad.&nbsp; They have a shot to do some damage in the playoffs as they are going to get truly tested in their tough district.&nbsp; We will not count them out to go far this year.&nbsp; If for some reason they do not, the future is theirs for the taking for sure.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay tuned for more articles on your favorite athletes.&nbsp; If you have anyone you think we should watch out for, please shoot me an email with some info at <a href="mailto:nov8vb@yahoo.com">nov8vb@yahoo.com</a>.&nbsp; Also don't forget to help these kids get more exposure by sharing our stories with your friends.&nbsp; Help us help them by simply retweeting on Twitter or sharing on Facebook.&nbsp; Thanks for following Texas Family!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->