2023 Houston Area HS Previews: 5A – District 21
In this article:
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.…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
Division 5A – District 21
A&M Consolidated
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 Jasmine Rau Jasmine Rau 5'3" | DS/L AM Consolidated | 2024 State TX , senior outside hitter Raegan Johnson, junior setter Madison Love Madison Love 5'3" A&M Consolidated | 2025 TX and junior defensive specialist Zoey Montgomery Zoey Montgomery 5'7" | DS/L A&M Consolidated | 2025 TX will be foundational pieces for the team this season.
Brenham
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 Charli Crowson Charli Crowson 6'1" | OH Brenham | 2024 State TX , middle Lillie Thibodeaux, libero Kristen Kuehn Kristen Kuehn 5'7" | DS/L Brenham | 2024 State TX and defensive specialists Averi Frazier Averi Frazier 5'6" | DS/L Brenham | 2024 TX (who can also play setter) and Brooklin Frazier Brooklin Frazier 5'6" | DS/L Brenham | 2024 TX .
College Station
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 Blair Thiebaud Blair Thiebaud 5'11" | S College Station | 2026 State TX , her older sister, senior middle Carson Thiebaud, and senior libero Camryn Kimes Camryn Kimes 5'7" | DS/L College Station | 2024 State TX .
Lake Creek
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 Ashlynn Kilgore Ashlynn Kilgore 5'10" | OH Lake Creek | 2024 TX , junior right side/outside hitter Peyton Mckee and junior libero Kennedy Schramm Kennedy Schramm 5'4" | DS/L Lake Creek | 2025 State TX
Magnolia
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 Chloe Richards Chloe Richards 6'1" | OH Magnolia | 2024 State TX (senior) and Haley Herndon Haley Herndon 6'1" | OH Concordia Lutheran | 2025 State TX (junior), setter Kira Braun Kira Braun 5'9" | S Magnolia | 2024 TX (senior) and libero Alli Gentry (senior) – also keep an eye out for sophomore libero Henlee Moszkowicz.
Magnolia West
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 Shannon Dworaczyk Shannon Dworaczyk 5'9" | S Magnolia West | 2026 TX (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.
Montgomery
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.
Rudder
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 Reagan Aponte Reagan Aponte 5'5" | S Rudder | 2024 TX , junior middle Kimora Maxey and junior libero Gabby Baker.