2023 Houston Area HS Previews: 6A - District 23

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 23   Alief Elsik   Houston's Alief Elsik ranked fifth in the district in the 2022 season with two victories in 12 matches played. The Mighty Rams will be back this year without the core of their team from last season after setter/right side Ashton Brooks, outside hitter Nina McCoy and middles Kayla Mendenhall and Olivia Ikwuemesi graduated. Seniors Sediong Scott (middle) and Angie Alvarez (setter) will be among the main returning players.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/elsik_vb/status/1566207486629224449?s=20 </div></figure>   Alief Hastings   Houston's Alief Hastings secured two wins in 12 district matches last season and managed to finish in sixth place in the district. Outside hitter Heaven McKey and libero Jocelyn Rodriguez led the Lady Bears' graduating class after their most recent campaign and won't be back in 2023. Several starters, however, will return, most notably senior setter Lauryn Brown, junior outside hitter Ma'Kaylee Martin and middles Daniella Udegbunam (senior) and Amyah Weathersby (junior).   Alief Taylor   Houston's Alief Taylor had the same two wins in 12 matches of their district foes, but ended at the bottom of the standings because of their fewer sets won (eight). Among the players that graduated after the last season are outside hitters Ashlynn Hawkins and Andrea Nguyen, setter Madison Harris and libero T'aja Hardy. In 2023, the core of the Lady Lions team should have senior right side/middle Ukpono Udobong, junior setter Kearstyn Spears and senior middle Oluwabusola Oguns.   Alvin   Alvin were the third-best team in the district last season with eight wins and four losses. The Yellowjackets made it past Clear Creek in the first round of the playoffs, but stopped at Summer Creek in the area round. Graduated outside hitters Ana Garza and Mackenzie Strban and libero Coryn Breau have left big shoes to be filled in the team's starting lineup alongside senior setter Korrigan Wright, senior middle Wylie Singleton, senior libero Emma Garcia and junior right side Corynn Williams.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/AlvinJacketVB/status/1668769181012221952?s=20 </div></figure>   Dawson   Pearland's Dawson were second in district play last season, winning ten and dropping just two matches in the region. The Lady Eagles went on to win three playoff matches until they fall to Cinco Ranch in the regional semifinals. The team won't be the same in 2023 as leading scorer outside hitter Kailey Thedford, strong middle Ava Kennon and reliable libero Carter Galley. Dawson, however, continues to have one of the strongest squads in the district with senior setter/right side Addison Moss, junior middle [player_tooltip player_id='201144' first='Kennedy' last='Michelle Jones'], sophomore middle [player_tooltip player_id='318191' first='Keaton' last='Points'], senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='190556' first='Hailey' last='Prodan'], senior right side Lauren Kerr and sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='362961' first='Isabella' last='Tijerina'].   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/Dawsonvball/status/1656025987522412549?s=20 </div></figure>   Pearland   Pearland were dominant in the district last season, winning all their 12 matches and dropping just three sets along the way. The Oilers also made a solid playoff run, getting back-to-back wins before they fell to Clear Springs in the regional quarterfinals. Right side Maddie Whitehead and outside hitter Rachelle Reed were the only two starters to graduate, which indicates Pearland could be very good again if some players step up. [player_tooltip player_id='142642' first='Allie' last='Schwartz'] (senior) and [player_tooltip player_id='212737' first='Kimanni' last='Rugley'] (junior) will continue to dominate the middle and will be key pieces for Pearland alongside junior setter Cora Wolford, senior libero Mia Ramirez, junior defensive specialist Maddie Dement and sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='254073' first='Avery' last='Koonsen'].   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PearlandOilerVB/status/1668815608098570241?s=20 </div></figure>   Shadow Creek   Pearland's Shadow Creek took the last spot in the playoffs in the district, finishing in fourth place with a campaign of six victories and six losses. The Sharks couldn't make it past their first playoff match, losing to Clear Springs in the bi-district round. Outside hitter Kelsea Dorsey and middle Jada Jackson were the main seniors to graduate, but Shadow Creek also lost star middle/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='212731' first='Mackenzie' last='Collins'], who transferred to Episcopal. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='218999' first='Simone' last='Robinson'] (setter/right side) and [player_tooltip player_id='318194' first='Lauryn' last='Wiley'] (libero) will both have big roles with the Sharks and will form the core of the team alongside junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='236818' first='Kelly' last='Kelsick'].   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/ShadowCreekVB/status/1668762783859757056?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.