2023 Houston Area HS Previews: 6A - District 16

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.   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 6A - District 16   Bridgeland   Cypress' Bridgeland were the second-best team in the district last season, getting 12 victories in 14 matches. The Lady Bears had a strong playoff run, falling only in the regional final to The Woodlands. At the end of the season, Bridgeland graduated a strong senior class that included outside hitter Olivia Waggoner and Kennedy Kays, middle Molly McClure and setter Lauren McIntyre. The Lady Bears have one of the best liberos in the entire state in senior [player_tooltip player_id='124159' first='Alice' last='Volpe'], a reliable setter in [player_tooltip player_id='446454' first='Lauren' last='Baek'], an up-and-coming middle in junior [player_tooltip player_id='187020' first='Rebekah' last='Pfefferkorn'] and two strong scoring options in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='155122' first='Amelia' last='Creacy'] (right side) and [player_tooltip player_id='258879' first='Raylee' last='Schaffner'].   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/BridgelandVB/status/1668330916488548354?s=20 </div></figure>   Cypress Falls   Houston's Cypress Falls got just one win in 14 district matches last season, finishing in eighth and last place. Some key players were part of the Lady Eagles' most recent graduating class, such as outside hitters Natalie Tagen and Riley Dorsey, middle Denise Boateng and defensive specialist Miah Zarate. Leading the team in 2023 will be senior setters Vivian Gray and Kahlis McCray, middles Deanne Boateng (senior) and Peyton Blackwell-Spangler (junior) and junior libero Haley Buchanan.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/cypressfallsVB/status/1558231616887132162?s=20 </div></figure>   Cypress Lakes   Katy's Cypress Lakes ranked seventh in district play season after they won two out of 14 matches in the area. Three pillars from last year's team, outside hitter Anaya Atkins, setter April Guevara and libero Tayann Cobo graduated and are no longer with the team. Senior outside hitter Xanzhae Grigsby and juniors Miranda Salazar (setter) and Abai Anyuon (middle) will all play big roles for the Lady Spartans in 2023.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/CyLakesVball/status/1615698071194636288?s=20 </div></figure>   Cypress Park   Cypress Park got three victories in 14 matches and finished in sixth place in the competitive Cypress district. Middles MeAsia Brooks and Genesis Martinez and libero Kashyra Oliver were the main seniors that graduated and won't be back this season. In 2023, senior outside hitter Lydia Njome and junior middle Oge Ugorji will be the main offensive options in the offensive system run by senior setter Anaya Jabbar.   Cypress Ranch   Houston's Cypress Ranch navigated district play extremely well, winning all 14 matches to finish in first place. Their postseason run wasn't as long as many would have expected as the Lady Mustangs were knocked out in the area round. They will try to dominate the district again in 2023 without outside hitter Bianna Muoneke, libero/setter Kirby Kliafas and middle Janyah Henderson, who all graduated. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='179890' first='Taylor' last='Porter'] is one of the best in the position in the entire state, senior [player_tooltip player_id='124150' first='Tya' last='Lynch'] is a force in the middle and they will be able to count on a pair of promising sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id='268779' first='Zora' last='Bello'] (setter) and [player_tooltip player_id='254272' first='Madyson' last='Carr'] (middle) and a solid libero in senior [player_tooltip player_id='222699' first='Gabby' last='Eads'].   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/Zora_Bello/status/1668322647443111949?s=20 </div></figure>   Cypress Springs   Cypress Springs were the first team in the district above the playoff line as they finished fifth with six victories and eight losses. Middle Jordyn Jones and outside hitter Katye Brice were the two seniors with more playing time last season that won't be back in 2023. This coming season, the Panthers' core will be formed by senior setter Dakota Bennett, senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='254080' first='Breanna' last='Swanson'], senior middle Toni Smith and outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='259919' first='Taylor' last='Hampton'] (junior) and Teno Fontenot (senior).   Cypress Woods   Cypress Woods claimed the final spot in the playoffs in the district, finishing fourth with a record of eight wins and six losses - their postseason run lasted just one match as they fell in the bi-district round. The team's last scorer in the 2022 season, outside hitter Emily Schaper has graduated, but besides her, libero Alexandra Diaz will be the only absence. Junior Jaya Rimm and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='536463' first='Caroline' last='Walden'] should have larger scoring responsibility at the pin, senior [player_tooltip player_id='269822' first='Madison' last='Presley'] will continue to offer a solid presence in the middle and junior Katy Oetken and sophomore Kaylee Peterson are viable options at setter for the Wildcats.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/CyWoodsVB/status/1563666457527189505?s=20 </div></figure>   Langham Creek   Houston's Langham Creek were third in district play last season by getting ten victories in 14 matches. In the playoffs, the Lobos fell to district foes Bridgeland in the regional quarterfinals. Middle Anna Jereb was the only senior with significant playing time to graduate. Langham Creek has had a strong core for years and maybe it's now that senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='194131' first='Leah' last='Rios'], senior outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='208197' first='Kennedy' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='239063' first='Taylor' last='Williams'], junior middle [player_tooltip player_id='212727' first='Jordan' last='Taylor'] and junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='216504' first='Ariana' last='Spell'] can put it all together and make a deep run.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/LCHSLobosVB/status/1588681685998399489?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.