2023 Houston Area HS Previews: 5A - District 20

<p>The club volleyball season has come to an end in great style, with the best teams in the country battling at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship, in Chicago, between the end of June and the start of July.</p>   <p>The top talent in the state of Texas won't have much time off the court, however, as they are now gearing up to represent their high schools in the upcoming season, with the first non-district matches set to happen on August 4 and district play starting from August 22.</p>   <p>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.</p>   <p>Prep Dig will be following all the action, as usual, but until it starts, let's take some time to preview some of the districts located in the Houston area.</p>   <p><strong>Division 5A - District 20</strong></p>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Kempner</strong></p>   <p>Sugarland's Kempner were the third-best team in the district last season, securing nine wins in 14 matches, but their playoff run lasted just two matches, ending in the area round in a strong Friendswood team. The Cougars lost their main offensive player, junior outside hitter/middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='209454' first='Ruth' last='Ochelli'], who transferred to Fort Bend Christian Academy, and will need to find a new setter after the graduation of Sophia Evans and Mackenzie Vaughan. The team has a strong senior core with defensive rock [player_tooltip player_id='186678' first='Sophie' last='Ilagan'] at libero, middles Elizabeth Holmquist and Brenna Casler and outside hitter Mia Clarke.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KempnerVb/status/1665889534003798018?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Marshall</strong></p>   <p>Missouri City's Fort Bend Marshall had a difficult season last year, losing all their 14 district matches and 20 of the 22 encounters they had in the season. With a few seniors graduating, such as middle Alexzandria Taylor and setter Bryanna Duncanson, some tweaks in the lineup will be needed. Guiding the Lady Buffs this season will be senior outside hitter Miashonae Mason, senior libero Naomi Groguhe and junior middle Amya Johnson.</p>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Willowridge</strong></p>   <p>Fort Bend Willowridge from Houston were fifth in the district, missing the playoffs with a campaign of three wins and 11 losses. The Lady Eagles are under new leadership with new head coach Georgia Olumoko taking over. The team's best player in the last few seasons, outside hitter Tahmiah Lawson graduated and the new era will begin without her. Some promising returning players in Willowridge's squad are senior libero Faith Liddell-Decarlo, sophomore setter Kyrah Carter and junior outside hitter Charleia Jayde.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/WillowridgeVB/status/1679292977741430786?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Foster</strong></p>   <p>Richmond's Foster ranked second in the district last season with 12 victories and losses only to district winners Fulshear. The Lady Falcons won their first playoff match, but fell to Barbers Hill in the area round. Setter Chloe Howard and outside hitter Koryn Johnson, who missed most of last season due to injury, were the only seniors with significant playing time to depart due to graduation. With seniors Brinlegh Davis (setter), [player_tooltip player_id='307452' first='Jackie' last='Onyechi'] (middle) and Eden Fairfield (libero), junior Brooke Barnes (outside hitter) and sophomore Emerson Lechler (outside hitter), the Lady Falcons continue to have one of the stronger rosters in the division.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/Foster_vball/status/1669032611577045015?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Fulshear</strong></p>   <p>Fulshear were dominant in the district once again last season, winning all their 14 matches while dropping just two sets. The Chargers also showed strength in the playoffs, making a deep run that only ended in the regional semifinals. Middle blocker could be a challenging position for Fulshear entering the next season after Victoria Powell, Rachel Nordt and Olivia Drayden all graduated (incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='438670' first='Arayah' last='Watson'] could be an option), but the Chargers have elite-level talent everywhere else with their strong junior class of [player_tooltip player_id='253963' first='Alexys' last='James'] (setter), [player_tooltip player_id='179898' first='Bailey' last='Warren'] (outside hitter), [player_tooltip player_id='179896' first='Sydney' last='Black'] (libero), Lauren Witte (outside hitter) and Yosola Adeleke (right side).</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/FULSHEARVB/status/1591941134204502017?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Lamar Consolidated</strong></p>   <p>With nine victories in 14 matches, Rosenberg's Lamar Consolidated finished fourth in the district and claimed the final spot in the playoffs - they were stopped by a strong Manvel team in the area round. The Lady Mustangs will be back without some key players from last season, such as setter Brooke Morris, libero Taliya de los Santos, outside hitter Taylor Joyney and middle Leah Scroggins, who all graduated. Senior Dezarae Rodgers is expected to step up as the new starting libero while junior outside hitters Nadia Ibarra and Kaylani Nichols showed last year they lead the team's offense.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/LCHS_MustangVB/status/1588681836817166339?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Randle</strong></p>   <p>Richmond's Randle got three wins in 14 district matches last season and ended up finishing in sixth place. A new program that started only in 2021, the Lady Lions are yet to graduate their first seniors, which means the entire team, which has senior middle Crystal Okafor, senior libero Brooke Avery, junior setter Madisyn Thompson and sophomore outside hitter Elana Douglas as their most promising prospects, will have great chemistry heading into the new season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/CuKsvo-PW_D/?img_index=1 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Terry</strong></p>   <p>Rosenberg's Terry ranked seventh in the district last season with three victories. Graduated Desiree Richardson (middle) and Raven Jordan (outside hitter) will be missed at the net. The Lady Rangers will count on senior setter Adriana Guerrero and outside hitters Anaiya Fahie and Madi Monroy to lead the team in their next campaign.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/TerryVolleyball/status/1582550028458946561?s=20 </div></figure>

The club volleyball season has come to an end in great style, with the best teams in the country battling at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship, in Chicago, between the end of June and the start of July.