2023 Houston Area HS Previews: 5A - District 21

<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 21</strong></p>   <p><strong>A&M Consolidated</strong></p>   <p>College Station's A&M Consolidated will be looking to do better this season after finishing sixth in the district in 2022 with four wins in 14 matches. The Lady Tigers will need to find a new core after five key players graduated in setter Abigail McKinney, outside hitters Kendra Humphries and Ella Norton and middles Lesley Munoz and Bella Gutierrez. Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='142222' first='Jasmine' last='Rau'], senior outside hitter Raegan Johnson, junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='269821' first='Madison' last='Love'] and junior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='269832' first='Zoey' last='Montgomery'] will be foundational pieces for the team this season.</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/rau_jasmine/status/1679471410580709378?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Brenham</strong></p>   <p>Brenham were the top team in the district last season, with 13 victories and just one loss in 14 matches. They advanced all the way to the regional finals but were denied a trip to the State Tournament by division foes Lake Creek. The team's leading scorer in the last seasons, outside hitter Brooke Bentke has graduated, as well as right side Ada Stopschinski and middle Tiyana Jones. The Cubettes continue to have a strong senior core to build from with setter/right side [player_tooltip player_id='124110' first='Charli' last='Crowson'], middle Lillie Thibodeaux, libero [player_tooltip player_id='178811' first='Kristen' last='Kuehn'] and defensive specialists [player_tooltip player_id='254071' first='Averi' last='Frazier'] (who can also play setter) and [player_tooltip player_id='254083' first='Brooklin' last='Frazier'].</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/BrenhamVBall/status/1594397279141744642?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>College Station</strong></p>   <p>The third-best team in the district last season with ten wins in 14 matches, College Station made it as far as the regional quarterfinals in their most recent campaign. The main absences from last year's squad will be libero Ava Martindale, outside hitter Marcella Deer and right side Riley Newton, who all graduated. The Lady Cougars' main scorer last season, senior outside hitter Avery Psencik will return for her last year, forming a strong core with star sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='318129' first='Blair' last='Thiebaud'], her older sister, senior middle Carson Thiebaud, and senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='519538' first='Camryn' last='Kimes']. </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/CSHSVball/status/1681459610861928448?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Lake Creek</strong></p>   <p>Lake Creek were the sensation of the last season as, after finishing second in district play with 11 wins and three losses, they made a trip to the State Tournament, losing in the semifinals. Replicating that campaign without outside hitter Payton Woods, setter Lauren Greene and middle Elizabeth Gunn, who all graduated, will be a challenge for the Lady Lions. Returning to lead the team this season will be senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='195590' first='Ashlynn' last='Kilgore'], junior right side/outside hitter Peyton Mckee and junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='178566' first='Kennedy' last='Schramm']</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/lakecreekvb/status/1593297985873580032?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Magnolia</strong></p>   <p>Magnolia finished fifth in the district with a campaign of eight wins and six losses and lost a play-in match to Magnolia West, who had the same campaign, missing the playoffs. Among their most important graduating players last season were middle blocker Alex Bull, outside hitter Briley Smith and defensive specialist Whitney Harper. Leading the team this season will be outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='207393' first='Chloe' last='Richards'] (senior) and [player_tooltip player_id='447335' first='Haley' last='Herndon'] (junior), setter [player_tooltip player_id='254252' first='Kira' last='Braun'] (senior) and libero Alli Gentry (senior) - also keep an eye out for sophomore libero Henlee Moszkowicz.</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/MagnoliaVBALL/status/1681124697214156801?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Magnolia West</strong></p>   <p>Magnolia West tied Magnolia's campaign of eight wins and six losses to finish fourth in the district after they defeated their rivals in a play-in match. The Lady Mustangs' playoff run wasn't a long one, though, as they fell in the bi-district round. Heavy-hitter Evyn Snook leads a graduating class that also includes libero Kassidy Johnson. The team's setting duo of [player_tooltip player_id='240982' first='Shannon' last='Dworaczyk'] (sophomore) and Bethany May (senior) remains intact and will have junior outside hitter Sydnie Mullens and senior middle Olivia Cruz as their main offensive options.</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/MagWestVB/status/1563354265728729090?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Montgomery</strong></p>   <p>Montgomery were at the bottom of the standings last season with a winless campaign of 14 losses and will be looking for improvement this season. The Lady Bears will need to start a new chapter without middles Abby Meador and Presli Harts, libero Sophie Anzueto and setter Isabella Fiaschetti, who all graduated. Senior setter Kasyie Lynch, junior outside hitter Mackenzie Hope and sophomore middle Savannah Welch will have bigger roles with the team in 2023.</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/Montgomeryvball/status/1671543162148474881?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Rudder</strong></p>   <p>Bryan's Rudder were seventh in the eight-team district with two wins in 14 matches. Some important players in their campaign graduated, such as middle Allison Layton and outside hitters Londyn Singleton and Neeley Rutledge, but others will be back, including senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='177530' first='Reagan' last='Aponte'], junior middle Kimora Maxey and junior libero Gabby Baker.</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/RudderVball/status/1598702777877909507?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.