2023 Houston Area HS Previews: 6A - 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 6A - District 20</strong></p>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Austin</strong></p>   <p>Sugar Land's Fort Bend Austin ended district play in fourth place last season thanks to their ten victories and six losses. The Bulldogs couldn't make it past the first round of the playoffs, though, as they were paired with Tompkins in the bi-district round. They come back in 2023 without some key starters from last season as outside hitter Carli Banks, middle Zoe Foster and setter Kyla Paulino graduated. Senior middle/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='124154' first='Adell' last='Murray'] will be Austin's main offensive weapon while junior libero Gabrielle Kennedy, who emerged as one of the best in the region, keeps things under control on the backcourt.</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/AustinBulldogVB/status/1682143166659436544?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Bush</strong></p>   <p>Richmond's Fort Bend Bunsh were at the bottom of the standings in the district last season as they couldn't win any of their 16 matches. They had a senior-heavy squad last year, meaning the likes of outside hitter Caitlyn Brister, libero Ashley Damijo and middle blocker Chelsea Anuna won't be back after graduation. Outside hitters Ashley Martinez and Jessica Brister and middle Arlyssia Oliver are some of the players that will need to lead the Lady Broncos this year as seniors.</p>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Clements</strong></p>   <p>Sugar Land's Fort Bend Clements were in the mix in the fight for a playoff spot, but ended up falling behind, ending district play in sixth place with six wins and ten losses. The Rangers lost their two main scorers in outside hitter Samantha Spitznagel and middle blocker Kaylin Daniels, who graduated, but preserved the rest of their core. Seniors Ally Bernas (outside hitter), Abigail Bazinet (middle) and juniors Emma Levy (libero) and Keyun Zhang (setter) are some of the players that should 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/clementsvball/status/1673730562530369537?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Dulles</strong></p>   <p>Sugar Land's Fort Bend Dulles couldn't make it to the playoffs last season as their campaign of eight wins and eight losses was only good enough for a fifth-place finish in the district. The Lady Vikings will need to work hard to do better this season as they lost their five main scorers, most notably outside hitters Kylie Mueller and Renato Bolado and middle Noor Haydari, to graduation. Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='459268' first='Ellie' last='Dylla'] also left, transferring to Fort Bend Christian Academy, leaving senior libero Barbara Fuentes and junior outside hitter Anna Brun as the building blocks for the upcoming 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/DullesVball/status/1585278527426928640?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Elkins</strong></p>   <p>Missouri City's Fort Bend Elkins were seventh in the district in 2022, getting five victories in their 16 matches. Setter Miya Ausby and middle Lena Johnson were the only seniors with significant playing time who graduated, which should give the Lady Knights some room for growth this season. The team has a promising core with senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='202625' first='Kennedi' last='Walker'], senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='222795' first='Semaj' last='Cox'], one of the best in the area, senior outside hitter Leena Wilson and junior right side Ope Aladetimi.</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/ElkinsVb/status/1665898455259119618?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Hightower</strong></p>   <p>Missouri City's Fort Bend Hightower got two victories in 16 matches, managing to rank eighth in the district last season. Middle Mia Daniel and outside hitter Gabrielle Gabriel are some of the main contributors from their last campaign who graduated and won't be back. Much of the Lady Canes' production in 2023 must come from their seniors - setters Carrington Archer and Heavyn Bazile, outside hitters Ja'Nae Johns and Haile Brandon and middle Dashaun Pinesette. </p>   <p><strong>Fort Bend Travis</strong></p>   <p>Richmond's Fort Bend Travis were second in district play last season, securing 13 victories in 16 matches. They couldn't make it past the bi-district round in the playoffs, however, stopping at Seven Lakes. High-scoring outside hitter Ryan Williams has graduated, as well as middle Isabella Marino, setter Kacy Perkins and libero Kynzie Lily. Some of the Lady Tigers' main players in 2023 should be junior outside hitters Kate Cardona and Jayla Buford and junior setter Ava Williams.</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/TTVball/status/1682500747890491392?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>George Ranch</strong></p>   <p>Richmond's George Ranch ranked third in district play last season with 12 victories and four losses. They ended up losing their first playoff match to Cinco Ranch, ending their run in the bi-district round. Libero Riley Steubing, libero Sarah Brotamonte and utility player Eryn Rainer, but the Longhorns have replacements for the first two lined up in Hailey Forshee and [player_tooltip player_id='269820' first='Madison' last='Herrera']. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='182109' first='Sydney' last='Bryant'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='269819' first='Madelynn' last='Coy'] will provide the scoring at the pins helped by seniors Avery Ameen (outside hitter) and London Finch (middle).</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/CoachForshee/status/1668991931571904514?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>Ridge Point</strong></p>   <p>Missouri City's Ridge Point were dominant in district play last season, winning all their 16 matches and dropping just three sets. Their playoff run went all the way to the regional quarterfinals, where they lost to Tompkins. The Panthers lost some key starters this coming season as outside hitter Sydney Jordan, middle Arissa Smith, libero Ava Thornquist and setter Emeli Muagututi'a all graduated. Ridge Point continue incredibly stacked at outside hitter, though, with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='124106' first='Lauren' last='Battle'] (who could also be an option at setter) and [player_tooltip player_id='179873' first='Carrington' last='Cook'], juniors [player_tooltip player_id='212725' first='Kennedi' last='Rogers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='442331' first='Aaliyah' last='Smith'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='197468' first='Jayden' last='Robinson'] all being excellent options. Senior middle [player_tooltip player_id='314848' first='Cameron' last='Coleman'] and senior setter Taylor Jory should both have important roles too.</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/RP_Volleyball/status/1665868663671386113?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.