Houston Area HS Previews: 6A – District 16

<p>The USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC) has just ended and new national champions have just been crowned in Indianapolis, but the prep volleyball community is already looking ahead to the start of the high school season.</p> <p>Over the next four months, prospects will store their club team uniforms in their closets and will represent their high schools with the goal of getting to the end of the year as the new state champions.</p> <p>The state of Texas has one of the largest high school seasons in the entire country with the University Interscholastic League (UIL) managing a tournament for public schools that features six divisions, 192 districts and as many as 1,207 high school teams.</p> <p>The start date for the 2022-2023 season is August 8 and between now and then, we’re previewing some of the districts located in the Houston area, highlighting their teams and most promising prospects.</p> <p>Our topic this time is Division 6A – District 16:</p> <p><strong> </strong><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Bridgeland</strong></p> <p>The Lady Bears were near the top of district 16 last season after they won 12 of their 14 matches, falling only to division winners Cypress Ranch. Coming into 2022-2023, the team will need to replace star outside hitter Mallorie Garner, the starting middle blocker duo of Emily Marks and Karrington Kays and setter Brooke Adams. The versatile [player_tooltip player_id="87547" first="Kennedy" last="Kays"] (Karrington’s younger sister) and Olivia Waggoner can carry the team’s offensive load and defense won’t, by any means, ever be a problem for a team that has backcourt studs [player_tooltip player_id="124159" first="Alice" last="Volpe"], Lauren McIntyre and [player_tooltip player_id="142199" first="Macy" last="McPartland"].</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Cypress Falls</strong></p> <p>The Lady Eagles weren’t as consistent as they would have wanted last season, winning five of their 14 matches to rank sixth in district 16. Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="124117" first="Mariana" last="Buchanan"] was an absolute star in the division in 2021-2022 and the team will need even more from her this time after the graduations of middle blocker Alyssa Finister and libero Abbie Smith. Setters Sarah Flores and Jordine Sostand will also be important pieces of the team.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Cypress Lakes</strong></p> <p>The Spartans couldn’t keep up with the very high level of the division last season, when they claimed just two victories in 14 matches to finish seventh in district 16. Things can get even more difficult for them this season with the graduation of starting outside hitters Imani Johnson and Campbell Beresford and it’s likely the Spartans will have to rely on the defensive solidness of libero Tayann Cobo and defensive specialist Mia Castillo to remain alive in matches.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Cypress Park</strong></p> <p>It could be another difficult season for the Lady Tigers, who pulled off a single win in 14 matches to finish at the bottom of district 16 in 2021-2022 in eighth place. The team will have to look for better performances without two of their best players from last season, outside hitter De’stiney Dove and Kayla Huerta, but the good news is that besides the two graduates, most of the team remains in place with middle blocker MeAsia Brown, outside hitter Lydia Njome and libero Kashyra Oliver.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Cypress Ranch</strong></p> <p>The Mustangs were unstoppable in the division last season, winning all of their 14 matches and only being out of the playoffs because of a setback against the Woodlands in one of just losses they had. There’s more than enough reason to believe in another brilliant season with star outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="176661" first="Bianna" last="Muoneke"] ready for another year and getting great help from the versatile [player_tooltip player_id="179890" first="Taylor" last="Porter"] (outside hitter/right side) and [player_tooltip player_id="155125" first="Taryn" last="Gilreath"] (setter/right side). Libero [player_tooltip player_id="87560" first="Kirby" last="Kliafas"] is as solid as it gets on the backcourt and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="124150" first="Tya" last="Lynch"] has all the tools to be a force at the net.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Cypress Springs</strong></p> <p>The Lady Panthers were a mid-table team last season, amassing five wins and nine losses to rank fifth in district 16.  Productive outside hitter Naomi Chankoumi has graduated and will be a missed absence, but the team has an interesting core to work with in athletic middle blocker Jordyn Jones, libero Katie Bryce and setters Dakota Bennett and Breanna Swanson.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Cypress Woods</strong></p> <p>The Wildcats were in the top half of district 16 last season as their campaign of nine wins and five losses was good enough to place them in third place. The team will certainly miss the production of graduated Dnari Mills (outside hitter) and Jackie Velzis (right side), but outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="87557" first="Emily" last="Schaper"] has shown she can pick up the slack on offense. Replacing setter Mia Medina and libero Elaine Gregersen could be more complicated, but Schaper should expect to get some help from middle blocker Madison Presley and outside hitter Jaya Rimm, who did well in her limited playing time last season.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Langham Creek</strong></p> <p>The Lobos had one of the best squads in district 16 last season, when they ranked fourth with eight wins and six losses, and they’re returning nearly that entire roster for 2022-2023. High-flying outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="208197" first="Kennedy" last="Jones"] will likely lead the team’s offense, but expect more contribution from middle blocker Jordan Taylor, who made impressive progress during the club season. In outside hitter Taylor Williams, setter [player_tooltip player_id="194131" first="Leah" last="Rios"] and libero Ariana Spell, the Lobos have an excellent core, which should just get better during the season.</p>