2023 Houston Area HS Previews: 6A – District 13
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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.…
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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, which is set to begin in just a few weeks, 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 6A – District 13
Caney Creek
Conroe’s Caney Creek had just two wins in 16 matches last season, ranking eighth in the district. The Lady Panthers had a relatively young squad last season, with setter Emily Bockelman and middle Brooke Davis being the only seniors with significant playing time that graduated. Leading the team in 2023 will be junior outside hitter Brooklyn Davis Brooklyn Davis 5'7" | OH Caney Creek | 2025 State TX , junior middle Isabell Peters, junior setter Hailey Caballero and sophomore libero Bella Brockhoeft.
Cleveland
With just two sets won during district play, Cleveland sat at the bottom of the standings with a winless campaign of 16 losses. The team’s most productive player last season, setter/outside hitter Alexandrea Roberson graduated, as well as middle blocker Vanessa Alva. Hoping for a better season, the Indians will need excellent production from outside hitter Brooke Brandon (senior), middles Emori Edwards-Shedd (junior) and Kimori Smith (sophomore), libero Samantha Ramirez (senior) and setter Chelsea Sauceda (senior).
College Park
The Woodlands’ College Park were fourth in the competitive district with nine wins in 16 encounters and had a two-match playoff run, falling to Langham Creek in the area round. The Lady Cavaliers will have a big challenge repeating that campaign this season without graduated outside hitter/libero Mallory Madison, middle Cassidy Copeland and outside hitter Peyton Sedlacek. College Park has two of the most promising prospects in the region in sophomore middle Lacy Tinnell Lacy Tinnell 6'4" | MB College Park | 2026 State TX and junior libero Morgan Madison and will surround them with other talented players such as sophomore setter Caroline Prihoda Caroline Prihoda 5'9" | S The Woodlands College Park | 2026 State TX and outside hitters Reese Ellen Reese Ellen 6'0" | RS The Woodlands College Park | 2026 TX (sophomore) and Abby Edmonson (senior).
Conroe
Conroe had the best start in program history last season and made it to the playoffs with 12 wins and four losses in district play. Their postseason run ended in the area round, with a loss to Tomball. Two key players in their excellent campaign, outside hitter Ariana Brown and libero Emma Malak, graduated. The rest of the team remains intact, with senior Kenedi Medford Kenedi Medford 5'9" | S Conroe | 2024 TX at setter, her sister, Kaiden Medford Kaiden Medford 6'2" | RS Conroe | 2024 TX at right side, senior Brooklyn Spikes Brooklyn Spikes 6'2" | MB Conroe | 2024 State TX and junior Kendall Glove in the middle and junior Prestyn Parish at outside hitter.
Grand Oaks
Spring’s Grand Oaks were the top team in the district last season with 15 wins and just one loss. Their playoff run ended in the area round, with a loss to Bridgeland. The Lady Grizzlies lost two important seniors to graduation in middle Brenna Groenemann and setter Sydney Louis, but still easily have one of the most exciting squads in the Houston area with seniors Jaela Auguste Jaela Auguste 6'0" | MB Grand Oaks | 2024 State #17 Nation TX (middle) Audrey Terry Audrey Terry 5'6" | S Grand Oaks | 2024 TX (setter/libero) and Caelyn Emmerling Caelyn Emmerling 6'1" | OH Grand Oaks | 2024 State TX (right side), junior Samara Coleman Samara Coleman 6'0" | OH Grand Oaks | 2025 State #74 Nation TX (outside hitter) and sophomores Halle Thompson Halle Thompson 6'1" | OH Grand Oaks | 2026 State TX (outside hitter), Cali Reece Cali Reece 5'5" | DS/L Grand Oaks | 2026 State TX (libero) and Samantha Sampson Samantha Sampson 5'6" | S Grand Oaks | 2026 State TX (setter).
New Caney
New Caney ranked seventh in the district last season with four victories in their 16 matches. Setter/right side Lily Thompson and outside hitter Ava Cianciotto, who carried the team’s offense last season, both graduated, leaving two big holes to be filled. In 2023, the Lady Eagles will have to heavily rely on two-way senior outside hitters Tobie Newson and Coryn Bailey and junior setter Rylie Goff.
Oak Ridge
Conroe’s Oak Ridge were in the middle of the pack last season, ranking sixth in the district with six wins and ten losses. The War Eagles will return in 2023 without last year’s starting libero Caroline Woodfill, who graduated. Sophomore outside hitter Gabriela Santiago Gabriela Santiago 5'8" | OH Oak Ridge | 2026 TX was a nice revelation last season and will play a big role in Oak Ridge’s offense while senior middle Luvina Oguntimehin Luvina Oguntimehin 6'2" | MB Oak Ridge | 2024 TX dominates the net and junior libero Bradi Rhodes gets the job done on the backcourt.
The Woodlands
The Woodlands strongly challenged Grand Oaks for the top spot in the district, also winning 15 out of 16 matches, but ranked second in the tie-breakers. The Highlanders return without some key players from last season who graduated, most notably setter/right side Claire Dewine, libero Molly Tuozzo and middle Marjorie Johnson. Junior outside hitter Ella Lewis Ella Lewis 5'11" | OH The Woodlands | 2025 State TX has shown she’s capable of carrying the team’s offense and will be a big part of the puzzle next season alongside junior outside hitter Abby Lewis, junior setter/right side Payton Stroud and senior middle Sophie Jones.
Willis
Willis were left out of the playoffs last season after they dropped a play-in match to College Park as the two teams ended district play with nine wins and seven losses. Three key seniors graduated after their last campaign in middle Taylor Hayes, setter Savannah Paske and libero Lakin Horne. Junior middle/outside hitter Carly Paugh Carly Paugh 6'2" | MB Willis | 2025 State TX will be the main focus of the Lady Cats’ offense again, with seniors Christa Johnson Christa Johnson 5'9" Willis | 2024 TX (outside hitter) and Haley Truett (middle) also playing big roles for the team.