Houston Area HS Previews: 6A – District 20

<!-- 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 20</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alief Elsik</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alief Elsik were moved into the district this season, coming from district 23, where they ranked sixth last season with a campaign of two wins and ten losses. The Rams' graduation class took two important players from them for their next campaign - middle blocker/outside hitter Sediong Scott and libero Angie Benitez. Entering 2024, seniors Jamya Fields (middle), Prisca Aroh (middle/right side) and Lena Mombo (setter/right side) will form the core of the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alief Hastings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alief Hastings also moved over from district 23 after securing a fifth-place finish last season, with four wins and eight losses. The Lady Bears won't have middle/outside hitter Daniella Udegbunam, setter [player_tooltip player_id='254256' first='Lauren' last='Brown'] and right side Melinda Winston, who graduated. Seniors Ma'kaylee Martin (outside hitter/middle), Amyah Weathersby (middle) and Zuri Nollie (libero) and junior Sydney Nollie (setter) will be key players for the team in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alief Taylor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before joining district 20 this season, Alief Taylor sat at the bottom of the standings in district 23 last year, with 12 losses. Two of their most important offensive players, middle Oluwabusola Oguns and outside hitter/middle Ukpono Udobong graduated after their last campaign. The Lady Lions will rely on senior setter Kearsteyn Spears, junior setter/libero Everlyn Nguyen and junior middle Amaiya Wade to make a strong first impression in their new district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Foster</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Foster moved over from Division 5A, district 20, where they advanced to the playoffs in second place last year, with 12 wins and two losses. The Falcons were eliminated from the postseason in the area round, after they lost to Barbers Hill. Foster will look different in their first season in Divison 6A after some of their pillars, most notably middle Jackie Onyechi, setter Brinleigh Davis and libero Eden Fairfield, graduated. They should still be very competitive with junior Reagan Knipling at setter, senior Brooke Barnes and junior Emerson Lechler at the pin and senior Kate Henderson in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fulshear</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fulshear also came com Division 5A, district 20 after triumphing last season with 14 wins. The Chargers made a trip to the State Tournament in 2023, but lost to Lovejoy in the semifinals. Middle/outside hitter Halle Nordt and setter Shayla Williams were the only seniors to graduate last season, which ensures that Fulshear will continue strong in Division 6A. The Chargers have a stellar senior core with outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='179898' first='Bailey' last='Warren'], [player_tooltip player_id='225557' first='Lauren' last='Witte'] and [player_tooltip player_id='179897' first='Avery' last='Pruitt'], liberos [player_tooltip player_id='179896' first='Sydney' last='Black'] and Addison Lednicky, setter/right side [player_tooltip player_id='253963' first='Alexys' last='James'] and middle Yosola Adeleke and some emerging talent to add to it in juniors Daisy Voskuhl and [player_tooltip player_id='232845' first='Shaniya' last='Harris'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='438670' first='Arayah' last='Watson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>George Ranch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>George Ranch are the only team that was in district 20 last season to return in 2024 - they were third with 12 wins and four losses and lost to Tompkins in the bi-district round of the playoffs. Right sides London Finch and Avery Ameen and libero Hailey Forshee are among last year's seniors who won't come back in 2024. The Longhorns will continue strong at outside hitter with senior [player_tooltip player_id='182109' first='Sydney' last='Bryant'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='269819' first='Madelynn' last='Coy'], have senior Caroline Dawson at setter and a pair of interesting middles in senior Ryann Farmer and junior Makayla Thompson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->