Houston Area 2025 HS Previews: District 22

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After almost eight months of intense action around the country, the club volleyball season came to an end a few weeks ago, with the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship taking place in Dallas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">District 22</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alvin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alvin finished sixth in the district in 2024, getting five wins and 11 losses against their regional rivals. The Yellowjackets completed their season with 10 victories and 28 defeats. Outside hitter Brooklynn Morris and setter Morgan Gassaway were the only seniors to leave the squad after the end of their last campaign. Heading into 2025, Alvin will count on middles [player_tooltip player_id='826191' first='Payton' last='Ashley'] (senior) and Lauren Weber (junior), setter/right side Reese Shotwell (junior) and senior setters [player_tooltip player_id='793073' first='Kennedi' last='Hansen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='793829' first='Jatara' last='Roland'] to be competitive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dawson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dawson were the second-best team in the district last season, registering 14 wins and two losses. The Lady Eagles appeared in the Division 1 Playoffs, but fell in the bi-district round to Ridge Point and completed their schedule with 32 victories and 11 defeats. Dawson lost two important players to graduation in middle Kennedy Michelle Jones and outside hitter Emmarie McFarland, but were able to keep most of their starters. Seniors Taylor Ranney (setter), [player_tooltip player_id='318191' first='Keaton' last='Points'] (middle), [player_tooltip player_id='839573' first='Sloane' last='Ranney'] (outside hitter) and [player_tooltip player_id='530380' first='Jenna' last='Thedford'] (libero) will bring some much-needed veteran presence to the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dobie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dobie ranked fifth last year with six wins and ten losses and were the first team in the district outside the qualification zone for the playoffs. Considering non-district matches, the Lady Longhorns had 12 positive results and 22 setbacks in their 2024 season. The team will look very different in 2025 after outside hitters Juliana Aguirre and Mia Campos, middle Adalee Garcia, setter Kaylie Bui and libero Hope Ortiz left due to graduation. Senior middles Jordan Johnson and [player_tooltip player_id='819468' first='Kylar' last='Joseph'], senior right side [player_tooltip player_id='827272' first='Jessica' last='Moise'] and junior setter Alyssa Goree will be key returners for the Lady Longhorns in the upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manvel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manvel secured ten wins and six losses last season and claimed the last spot in the postseason, ranking fourth in the district. The Lady Mavericks secured a pair of victories in the Division 2 Playoffs before losing to Stratford in the Regional Semifinals and ended the season with 30 victories and 14 defeats. Setter Kenedy Massie, outside hitter Niara Williams and libero Keagan St. Junious were the standouts in the team's graduating class. With setter [player_tooltip player_id='254265' first='London' last='King'], right side/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='254283' first='Nevaeh' last='English'], middles [player_tooltip player_id='822299' first='Kaycee' last='Pennie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='226814' first='Jasmyn' last='Walker'], outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='819212' first='Kadia' last='Jackson'] and liberos [player_tooltip player_id='796858' first='Emerson' last='Chang'] and [player_tooltip player_id='799798' first='Sami' last='Guikema'], Manvel have a strong senior core and will compete again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pasadena Memorial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pasadena Memorial ended up in seventh place in the district standings last year with five wins and 11 losses. Their overall season record had 16 positive results and 22 defeats. Middle blocker Emma Reeves, outside hitter Callie Martin and libero Kendra Denoon were the three starters who left the team after the 2024 season due to graduation. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='805386' first='Addelyn' last='Dinsdale'], senior setter/right side Kenzie Fernandez, junior setter Savannah Lott and junior middle [player_tooltip player_id='819200' first='Juliana' last='Olivo'] will form the core of the team in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pearland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pearland were the top team in the district last season with 15 wins and one loss. The Lady Oilers made a solid run in the Division 1 Playoffs, winning a pair of matches before meeting Fulshear in the Regional Semifinals and ending their season with 40 victories and only six upsets. They will try to repeat in 2025 despite the departure of six graduating seniors - middle Kimanni Rugley, right side Mackenzie LaChiusa, setter Cora Wolford and Emily Brock and liberos Adrienne Enriguez and Maddie Dement. Outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='254073' first='Avery' last='Koonsen'] (senior) and [player_tooltip player_id='443013' first='Britney' last='Solomon'] (junior) will lead the team in the upcoming season, having junior middle [player_tooltip player_id='825663' first='Aaryn' last='Brown'] and senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='503370' first='Emma' last='Garza'] as important pieces - sophomore outside hitter Arie Glover could have a big role too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sam Rayburn</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sam Rayburn couldn't keep up with the district's competition level in 2024, and sat at the bottom of the standings with 16 losses and only three sets won. The Lady Texans also struggled against non-district rivals and completed their schedule with one victory and 27 defeats. Outside hitters Kaylin Martínez and Jazmine Marrufo, middle Monina Ostos and setter Makayla Flowers led the team's graduating class. Senior middles [player_tooltip player_id='819580' first='Leona' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='819105' first='Jazlyn' last='Hernandez'] and senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='797907' first='Aleah' last='Garza'] will be key pieces in the team in the upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shadow Creek</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shadow Creek were the third-best team in the district last season, registering 13 wins and three losses. The Lady Sharks ended their season with 35 victories and 12 defeats after they made a deep run in the Division 2 Playoffs, advancing all the way to the Regional Finals, where they lost to Stratford. Outside hitter Mackenzie Collins, libero Kelly Kelsick and middle Kiara Horne won't be back in 2025 after they graduated. The Lady Sharks continue to have a deep roster, though, having senior setters Bella Law and [player_tooltip player_id='218999' first='Simone' last='Robinson'], senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='318194' first='Lauryn' last='Wiley'], junior right side [player_tooltip player_id='534319' first='Aspen' last='Brown'], junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='459664' first='Tamarria' last='Mitchell'] and junior middle [player_tooltip player_id='501887' first='Kennedy' last='Proctor'] as important players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Houston</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Houston finished eighth in district play last year, securing four wins and 12 losses. The Lady Trojans were more efficient against non-district opponents and completed their season schedule with 16 victories and 24 defeats. South Houston had a senior-heavy squad last season and the vast majority of their team graduated, most notably outside hitters Jazlynn Aguilon and Jeady Cruz, middle Esmeralda Arredondo, libero Gizzel Gutierrez and setter Karina Guillen. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='823428' first='Valerie' last='Rodriguez'] will be a key returner for the Lady Trojans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->