Houston Area 2025 HS Previews: District 16

After almost eight months of intense action around the country, the club volleyball season came to an end two weeks ago, with the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship taking place in Dallas.   The prospects from Texas won't, however, have a lot of time to breathe and relax after defending their club teams, as, in just over a month, on August 11, the high school volleyball season is about to begin in the Lone Star State, with the first matches of the University Interscholastic Legue (UIL) being held.   As in the past years, Prep Dig Texas will continue to follow the action closely in the Houston area, attending multiple matches every week and providing comprehensive coverage, with analysis, photos and social media posts from each of them.   It should be another exciting season, filled with highly-contested matches and strong individual performances, and, before August 11 arrives, we'll preview each district in the Houston area so you know exactly what to expect from each team competing:   District 16   Bridgeland   Bridgeland finished second in the district last season, winning 13 matches and losing only one. The Lady Bears made it past the first round of the Division 1 Playoffs before falling to eventual champions Grand Oaks and ending their season with a record of 30 wins and 14 losses. A big part of the program in the last few years, middle/outside hitter Rebekah Pfefferkorn graduated, as did setter Grace Wegenke and middles Hannah Krouse and Emily Greer. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='443024' first='Justice' last='Rachal'] will form the core of the team in 2025 alongside seniors [player_tooltip player_id='806365' first='Allison' last='Sims'] (outside hitter), [player_tooltip player_id='827245' first='Brooklyn' last='Barrow'] (middle), Tessa Clak (right side), Alexis Couch (libero) and [player_tooltip player_id='391045' first='Kennedy' last='Boatman'] (setter).   Cypress Lakes   Cypress Lakes ranked seventh in the district in 2024, getting just two victories in their 14 matches. The Lady Spartans ended the season with nine wins and 31 defeats. The team will come back this season without the two main scorers from their last campaign after middles Abai Anyuon and Alanne Moore both graduated. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='821269' first='Zackavia' last='Scott'] (middle), Lauryn Jeffries (right side) and Adelynn Zumaya (outside hitter) will lead the team at the net, while senior [player_tooltip player_id='803458' first='Daisy' last='Luna Casas'] should be the starting libero and juniors Hananiah Alexander and Paige McMillan split time at setter.   Cypress Park   Cypress Park had a difficult season in 2024, going winless in their 14 district matches while winning just two sets. The Lady Tigers got just one victory in 29 matches, considering the entire season. Outside hitter Skylar Theis, middle Mariah Espocito and right side Nyah Day were the standouts in their graduating class. Junior middle [player_tooltip player_id='818791' first='Grace' last='Ogidi'], senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='798221' first='Brianna' last='Bustos'], senior setter Sarah Njome and senior outside hitter Luna Alvarado should form the core of the team in the upcoming season.   Cypress Ranch   Cypress Ranch were the best team in the district last season, registering 13 wins and one loss against their regional rivals. The Lady Mustangs were upset by The Woodlands in the area round of the Division 1 Playoffs and ended their campaign with 39 victories and seven defeats. Star outside hitter Taylor Porter was the standout in a graduating class that also included fellow outside hitter Sarah Rivich and middle A'miyrie Anderson. Sister [player_tooltip player_id='268779' first='Zora' last='Bello'] (senior setter/right side) and [player_tooltip player_id='765090' first='Sade' last='Bello'] (sophomore outside hitter) are key pieces for Cypress Ranch, which also has seniors [player_tooltip player_id='272125' first='Caroline' last='Srubar'] (setter), [player_tooltip player_id='605192' first='Kaylee' last='Parker'] (right side), [player_tooltip player_id='254251' first='Kinsley' last='Hooper'] (libero) and [player_tooltip player_id='254272' first='Madyson' last='Carr'] (middle) and junior Saniya Reynolds (middle) in their squad.   Cypress Springs   Cypress Springs were the sixth-best team in the district with four wins and ten losses. The Lady Panthers were more successful against teams from other districts, producing a 19-24 win record for the season. Outside hitter Genesis Perry, setter Jazmyne Cager and libero Taylor Hampton were the only players who had significant roles in 2024 to graduate at the end of the season. Coming into 2025, Cypress Springs will rely on senior outside hitter Jayla Malone, senior middle [player_tooltip player_id='825048' first='Rayne' last='Peavy'], sophomore middle Jess Garcia and senior setter Alyssa Juarez to climb the standings next season.   Cypress Woods   Cypress Woods ranked third in the district last year with ten wins and four losses. The Lady Wildcats didn't make it far in the Division 2 Playoffs, going down to Tomball in the bi-district round and ending their season with 31 wins and 13 losses. Outside hitter Jaya Rimm, middle Allison Doolen and setter Katy Oetken are the main standouts in the team's most recent graduating class. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='536463' first='Caroline' last='Walden'] will be a key player for Cypress Woods in 2025, playing alongside senior middle [player_tooltip player_id='827248' first='Savannah' last='Nelsen'], junior outside hitter Kennedy Reddin, senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='509419' first='Addison' last='Gibson'] and senior setter Kaylee Peterson.   Langham Creek   Langham Creek missed the playoffs last season, taking fifth in the district with seven wins and eight losses after they dropped a play-in game to Waller. The Lobos had a negative record considering the entire season too, getting 27 wins and 28 defeats. Langham Creek graduated their best player in the last four season, star middle Jordan Taylor, who left the team alongside libero Ariana Spell. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='492673' first='Reagan' last='Gatlin'] should become the team's go-to scorer, with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='783857' first='Sophie' last='West'] and Emma Zatz manning the middle, junior [player_tooltip player_id='443026' first='Kaylin' last='Bailey'] appearing at libero and senior [player_tooltip player_id='486949' first='Lily' last='Fryar'] having another go as the team's starting setter.   Waller   Waller finished fourth in their first season in the district in 2024 with eight wins and seven losses and overcame Langham Creek in a play-in game to make it to the postseason. The Lady Bulldogs didn't last long in the Division 2 Playoffs, going down in the bi-district round to Magnolia West. Waller won't have two of their best players from last year, outside hitter Moriah Johnson and middle Kenadii Winfrey, who graduated alongside outside hitter Jayana Phillips and middle Madisyn Byars. Returning starters, junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='534410' first='Sasha' last='Keys'], senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='514166' first='Dakota' last='Hieber'] and senior libero Madison McCain will need to provide stability so players like sophomore middle Hailey Angelo-Miller can develop.

After almost eight months of intense action around the country, the club volleyball season came to an end two weeks ago, with the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship taking place in Dallas.