Houston Area Five Players to Watch: 6A – District 15
The high school volleyball season is set to start in just a few weeks in the state of Texas and after a quick break following the conclusions of the club season, we can’t wait any longer to watch the top…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe high school volleyball season is set to start in just a few weeks in the state of Texas and after a quick break following the conclusions of the club season, we can’t wait any longer to watch the top prospects of the Lone Star State in action again.
There will be several thousand players in action across the 1,207 high school teams that compete in the six divisions of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and among them, there are some very talented ones, who certainly have a bright future in the sport.
As we continue to preview what the high school season will look like in the Houston area, we shift our focus from teams to players and highlight five of the most intriguing prospects in the districts located in the region.
Join us as we examine Division 6A – District 15:
Kaitlyn Davis Kaitlyn Davis 5'9" | OH Tomball | 2024 TX – Outside Hitter – Tomball – Club: Texas Legacy – 2024
An extremely technical and highly-productive outside hitter, Kaitlyn Davis Kaitlyn Davis 5'9" | OH Tomball | 2024 TX is a key piece in Tomball’s playing system. She’s a player who’s capable of spearheading the team’s backcourt efforts with her solid and passing skills but also of carrying its offensive production with her explosive, yet very technical and cerebral game. Davis filled the stats sheet last season with 369 kills, 398 digs, 616 passes and 35 aces and is coming for more after an excellent club season with Texas Legacy.
Kelly Pawelka – Setter – Klein Cain – Club: Asics Willowbrook – 2024
Kelly Pawelka is a reliable and consistent setter, who makes the most of her hitters with her style of play. The 5’8” playmaker consistently makes smart choices with her distribution, making life easier for her hitters. Her technique is her most impressive skill and Pawelka is also very effective on the backcourt. She put on some huge numbers in her first high school season with Klein Cain, ending the team’s campaign with 699 assists, 282 digs and 44 aces.
McKenna Ferris – Right Side – Klein Collins – Club: Texas Legacy – 2023
A heavy-armed hitter, McKenna Ferris is a more-than-viable scoring option for the teams she plays for. Ferris stands at 5’11” and gets off the floor really well, a combination that makes of her difficult to stop. She’s also a lefty and has apparent endless shots and angles she can hit. Her blocking is also very productive because of her long arms and excellent reading and timing. Ferris had 197 kills, 39 blocks and 38 digs last season with Klein Collins.
Mikala Sampson Mikala Sampson 6'1" | MB Klein | 2023 State #109 Nation TX – Middle Blocker – Klein – Club: Asics Willowbrook – 2023
Mikala Sampson Mikala Sampson 6'1" | MB Klein | 2023 State #109 Nation TX ‘s combination of a 6’1” frame, extremely quick feet and tremendous leaping ability make of her a handful to deal with at the net. She’s very dynamic and intense in the middle and has a very powerful and efficient offensive game, which should be even more used by Klein with the departures of Kierstyn McFall and Ariana Brown Ariana Brown 5'11" | OH Conroe | 2023 State TX . Sampson is also a very good blocker and does an excellent job in closing the space from hitters. She was tremendously productive last season with 284 kills and 48 blocks.
Sydney Speer – Middle Blocker – Tomball Memorial – Club: Willowbrook – 2023
Another towering class of 2023 middle blocker developed in the popular Asics Willowbrook club, Sydney Speer plays a pivotal role in her high school team Tomball Memorial’s success. The 6’2” prospect has an excellent presence at the net and her blocking is a real game-changer because of her ability to move well and shut down opposing hitters. Speer has also been used on the right and showed an interesting ability to keep the same power she typically shows in the middle when hitting up-and-down sets. She tallied 147 kills and 80 blocks last season.