Houston Area HS Previews: 6A – District 19

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">District 19</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cinco Ranch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cinco Ranch were the undefeated district champions last year, triumphing in all of their 16 matches. The Cougars played in the State Championship match last year, but fell to champions Grand Oak to finish second. Cinco Ranch's last season's strong squad counted on four seniors, who won't be back in 2024 - outside hitter Makenna Loo, middles Shea Rainosek and Emilly Killam and right side Ariana Willis. The three remaining starters, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='179888' first='Kassidy' last='O'Brien'] (setter), outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='525242' first='Gabriella' last='Martinez'] (outside hitter) and Magdalene Finnegan (libero), will be huge for them this season, helped by two more seniors - outside hitter Addison Goertz and middle/right side Nicole Teerman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordan claimed the last spot in the playoffs in the district, ranking fourth with ten wins and six losses. In the postseason, the Warriors lost to Ridge Point in the bi-district round. Next season's team won't have setter Leah Ross, outside hitter Ella Koch and middle Addison Oglesby, who graduated. Junior setter/right side [player_tooltip player_id='504400' first='Ava' last='Ribakovs'], senior middle/right side [player_tooltip player_id='232747' first='Abbie' last='O'Shay'], senior middle Damisi Osibodu and junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='254150' first='Emmy' last='Nicholas'] will form the core of the team going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Katy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Katy were the first team below the playoff line in 2023 as they ranked fifth with eight wins and eight losses. The Lady Tigers lost three important seniors to graduation in middle/right side Nyla Wold, libero Cameron Steger and setter Gabi Young. In 2024, the team will have four seniors playing critical roles in outside hitter Kennedy Pike, setter [player_tooltip player_id='461080' first='Jade' last='Adams'], middle Montgomery Henderson and middle/right side Kaysen Milles. Expect junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='486934' first='Ella' last='Chaapel'] and senior outside hitter Allison Sanders to get plenty of playing time as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mayde Creek</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mayde Creek finished eighth in district play last year with a campaign of two wins and 14 losses. The Rams graduated just two seniors in setter Shelby Lozano and libero Sydney Tellez and should be able to keep the same core for the upcoming season. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='437647' first='Melanie' last='Gasca'] (setter), [player_tooltip player_id='249748' first='Jasmine' last='Thomas'] (middle) and [player_tooltip player_id='486962' first='Raquel' last='Cortez'] (outside hitter/middle) are the pillars of the team, which has two other seniors playing important roles in outside hitter Bailee Khaliq and libero Ehiose Esechie.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Morton Ranch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morton Ranch sat at the bottom of the standings in the district last season, dropping all their 16 matches to rank ninth. Middle Alexis Scott, outside hitter Kirsten Williamson, libero Jennifer Mendoza and setter Lexi Frauston were all part of their last graduating class. Leading the Mavericks in 2024 will be junior outside hitter Dylan Day, senior right side Arbrie Thomas and junior setter Skyla van Tilbug.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Paetow</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paetow finished seventh in the district last year, producing a campaign of four wins and 12 losses. The Panthers will head into the 2024 season without outside hitter Devan Adams, libero Valeria Valladares and setter Ilana Rosario, who graduated. Sophomore outside hitter Araya Scranton is set to lead the team after a strong freshman season, having middles Katy Bailey (senior) and Calea Bush (junior), senior outside hitter Carsyn Jefferson and junior setter Jade Songer as important teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seven Lakes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven Lakes were the third-best team in district, with a campaign of 12 wins and four losses. In the playoffs, they survived the first four rounds before losing to district foes Cinco Ranch in the Regional Finals. The Spartans graduated a strong senior class, which included setter Simone Romriell, right sides Sameena Burns and Katie Cieslewicz, outside hitter Temi Sam-Olibale and middle LeAnna Beaty. Despite that, they still have a nice roster heading into the upcoming season, with senior [player_tooltip player_id='207678' first='Kate' last='Kuehn'] at setter, junior [player_tooltip player_id='478110' first='Lily' last='Lott'] at outside hitter, senior Heidy Wingate and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='762447' first='Gracie' last='Hobin'] in the middle and junior [player_tooltip player_id='468893' first='Megan' last='Chapman'] at libero.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Taylor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor ranked sixth in the district last season, getting six wins and ten losses in their campaign. Outside hitters Hannah Fan and Ally Campbell, middle Vanessa Eregie and setter Giulianna Gugliotti were all part of the Mustang's graduating class ahead of the season. Senior right side [player_tooltip player_id='269804' first='Julia' last='Porath'] will be the team's technical reference in 2024, when junior setter Lucy Mihalick, senior libero Sophia Bissaillon and junior middle [player_tooltip player_id='435684' first='Madison' last='Barrera'] are all expected to take a step forward - also keep an eye on sophomore right side [player_tooltip player_id='534334' first='Eva' last='Kate Simoncic'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tompkins</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tompkins were second in district play, having won 14 and lost just two matches. The Falcons had no issues making it past the first two rounds of the playoffs, but were knocked out by district rivals Seven Lakes in the Regional Quarterfinals. Tompkins had a thin senior class in 2023 and will miss only setter Erica Dellesky and outside hitter Kayla Rossi coming back in 2024. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='203987' first='Caelyn' last='Dumas'] (setter/right side) and Brooklyn Merrell (libero/setter) give the team a lot of technical stability while seniors [player_tooltip player_id='227249' first='Simi' last='Elliott'] (middle), Christin Cowart (outside hitter/middle) and Sydney Lynch (outside hitter) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='254092' first='Callie' last='Funk'] (middle) and [player_tooltip player_id='326514' first='Emma' last='Elsasser'] (middle/right side) offer plenty of options at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->