Outside Hitters to Watch at the Katy-Cy Fair Tournament

The high school volleyball season officially kicks off in the state of Texas this week, and some exciting preseason tournaments are set to take place in the Lone Star State as varsity teams prepare to begin their district campaigns very soon.   One of them is the Katy ISD-Cy Fair ISD Tournament, a traditional event that gathers some of the best programs of the Houston area and other regions of the state in the Katy and Cypress areas. In 2026, as many as 48 teams will play on six high school campuses in the area from Thursday, August 13, to Saturday, August 15.   Prep Dig Texas will cover the event and take a look at some of the best players in the state very early into the new season, but before the action begins, let's introduce you to some of the most promising prospects who will be on the court in the event. These outside hitters can carry their teams in the event:    Bello will be with Cy Ranch when they face Fort Bend Austin, Cinco Ranch and Cy Ridge in the first round. A dynamic and reliable point-scorer, the junior is their main offensive weapon and uses her athleticism and firepower to make things happen at the pin. Bello has an impressive vertical and is very quick with both her legs and her arms, which gives her an edge over opponents up at the net. An all-around player, she also does well with her passing and is very productive when playing defense.      Morrison will lead Tomball Memorial in their first-round matches against College Station, Katy Taylor and Tomas. She's a amazing scorer who does a great job of diversifying her swings and remaining consistent throughout matches. Morrison is explosive and heavy-armed enough to overpower most blockers and defenders who get in her way, but her excellent shot selection allows her to beat them in different ways while also keeping them guessing. The junior's offense also stands out for her ability to find nice angles in her swings, which is particularly helpful when she's hitting from the back row.      Baillio is part of the Grand Oaks team that will start its campaign against Klein Collins, College Park and Cy Woods. Although her team has strong options at the pins, the sophomore will certainly push for a spot in the starting lineup with her well-rounded and productive game. Tall and powerful offensively, Baillio is extremely efficient at the net, mostly due to her ability to see the game in front of her and adjust effectively in the run of play. The pin hitter also brings the heat from the service line, is very reliable with her passing and delivers big digs when playing defense, contributing in basically every area of the game.      Dinges and her Bellville teammates will try to qualify against A&M Consolidated, Memorial and Cy Springs. Capable of playing on both pins, the junior is very consistent and reliable with her production, being the player her team gives the ball to in key moments. Dinges is very explosive with her approach, gets off the floor well and has a very strong right-arm swing. Her decisions are always well-made, which limits her errors and often results in her getting the kill.      With Barnes at the pin, Foster will play against Seven Lakes, Alief Taylor and Langham Creek in the first round of the event. Equipped with great lenght and a solid shot selection, the junior is capable of playing on both pins and has a big role in the team's offense. Barnes makes the most of her high contact point and shows excellent vision to find solutions to difficult plays and put the ball down. She also does well in serve-receive and offers a big blocking presence at the pin.

The high school volleyball season officially kicks off in the state of Texas this week, and some exciting preseason tournaments are set to take place in the Lone Star State as varsity teams prepare to begin their district campaigns very soon.