Houston Area HS Previews: 6A - District 13

After nine months of grinding for their club teams, volleyball prospects in the state of Texas are ready to turn their focus to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school season, which is set to start soon, with the first matches set for August 12.   It will definitely be an interesting season to follow after the realignment promoted by the UIL, which altered the scenario in several districts, as well as the new competition format, which will split the playoffs into two divisions, and Prep Dig will be following the action closely in the Houston area, providing weekly match reports and photos of the most exciting duels.   Before the action begins, though, let's take a good look at each of the 12 districts of the region, analyzing each team and their aspirations.   District 13   Caney Creek   Caney Creek were seventh in the district last season with a campaign of three wins and 13 losses. There will be a lot of continuity for the Lady Panthers this season, with just three seniors graduating from their previous campaign. The team's leading scorer, passer and defender in 2023, senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='178950' first='Brooklyn' last='Davis'] is back, as well as setters Hailey Caballero (senior) and Marissa Solorzano (junior) and senior middle Isabell Peters.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/caneycreek_vb/status/1796944702681280807 </div></figure>   Cleveland   Cleveland will be looking for improvement after going winless in their last two district campaigns. It will be a year of change for the Lady Indians, who saw several seniors leave the team at the end of the last season. Things will continue stable in the middle, with senior Emori Edwards-Shedd and junior Kimori Smith returning for another season alongside junior libero Francine Saplala.   College Park   College Park were the second-best team in the district in 2023, completing their schedule with 13 wins and three losses. The Lady Cavaliers also won a playoff match before falling to Tomball Memorial in the area round. The team will have the opportunity of trying to advance further this season with basically the same roster as most of their key players, such as junior middle [player_tooltip player_id='209539' first='Lacy' last='Tinnell'], senior libero Morgan Madison, junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='225147' first='Caroline' last='Prihoda'] and junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='230851' first='Reese' last='Ellen'], will all be back.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/CPVBCavs/status/1798881163299172694 </div></figure>   Conroe   Conroe were the first team below the playoff qualification line last season, ranking fifth in the district with seven wins and nine losses. The Lady Tigers saw part of their core graduate, most notably middle Brooklyn Spikes, middle/right side Kaiden Medford and setters Kenedi Medford and Josephina Christensen. The team's main scorers from last season, middle Kenna Davis and outside hitter Natalia Johnson will return and will form the core of the team with fellow senior and libero [player_tooltip player_id='500277' first='Prestyn' last='Parish'].   Grand Oaks   Grand Oaks started their state championship-winning campaign last year with a perfect record of 16-0 in the district. Setter Audrey Terry, right sides Caelyn Emmerling and Brookelynn Anderson and middles Jaela Auguste and Jonaida Donowa won't return after last year's successful campaign after they graduated. But the Lady Grizzlies continue to have one of the strongest teams in the state with outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='318128' first='Halle' last='Thompson'] (junior), [player_tooltip player_id='180175' first='Samara' last='Coleman'] (senior) and [player_tooltip player_id='235512' first='Hailey' last='Lotspeich'] (junior), setter [player_tooltip player_id='452249' first='Samantha' last='Sampson'] (junior) and libero [player_tooltip player_id='235997' first='Cali' last='Reece'] (junior).   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grandoaksvb/status/1798940154239041848 </div></figure>   Oak Ridge   Oak Ridge ranked fourth in the district last season with a campaign of ten wins and six losses. They advanced from the bi-district round in the playoffs, but fell to Bridgeland in the area round. Returning in 2024, the War Eagles won't have middle Luvina Oguntimehin and libero Lily Campos, who both graduated. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='318566' first='Gabriela' last='Santiago'] will be a key piece in the team's playing system, alongside senior setter Bradi Rhodes, junior outside hitter Leila Ceaser and sophomore middle Micah Rusher.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/IMG_5455.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-474851" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bridgeland vs. Oak Ridge</figcaption></figure>   New Caney   New Caney had just one win in 14 district matches last season, finishing in eighth place. Graduated outside hitters Faith Holland, Coryn Bailey and Tobie Newson will be major absences for the Lady Eagles in 2024. First-team all-district senior setter Rylie Goff, second-team all-district libero Emily McKee and all-district honorable mention sophomore middle Alexis Turner will form the core of the team in the upcoming season.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/NCHSVolleyball/status/1800195482532389105 </div></figure>   The Woodlands   The Woodlands were third in district play last season with a 13-3 win record. The Lady Highlanders won their first two playoff matches before falling to Tomball Memorial in the regional quarterfinals. Middle Sophie Jones and setter Brooke Jones stand out among last year's graduating class and won't be back in 2024. [player_tooltip player_id='179917' first='Ella' last='Lewis'] will continue to play a major role for the team this season, appearing in the starting lineup alongside fellow senior outside hitter Abby Lewis, setters Payton Stroud (senior) and Megan Johnson (junior) and middle Alexandra Bespaly (middle).   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/TwhsVball/status/1800290859336020260 </div></figure>   Willis   Willis were the sixth-best team in the district last season, with a campaign of seven wins and nine losses. Libero Grace Wilder, setter Samantha Skelton and middles Delaney New and Haley Truett were part of the program's most recent graduating class and won't be back with the Lady Wildkats in 2024. Leading them on the court will be senior outside hitter/middle [player_tooltip player_id='190295' first='Carly' last='Paugh'], junior outside hitter Tori Greeney, senior setters Brianna Hendrickson and Summer Clark and senior middle Mylee Williams.

After nine months of grinding for their club teams, volleyball prospects in the state of Texas are ready to turn their focus to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school season, which is set to start soon, with the first matches set for August 12.