What a season it was on the UIL volleyball scene!
After three straight years in which H-Town teams left Garland, TX empty-handed, the state championship trophy is finally coming back to the Bayou City courtesy of Grand Oaks going on an unprecedented run for their school to win it all.
Similarly, Cinco Ranch and Tomball Memorial advanced to the furthest point in their program history, reaching the Class 6A State Final and Region II Finals, respectively.
Furthermore, another Katy ISD representative, Seven Lakes, displayed shades of their 2020 state title form to finish the year as Region III finalists.
In Class 5A, Barbers Hill also made school history by advancing five rounds deep into the playoffs, where they would ultimately fall to the eventual state finalist and perennial powerhouse Fulshear in the Regional Finals.
It was truly a year to remember for Houston fan-bases, with dozens of teams loaded with some of the top athletes in the state.
With that in mind, it's time to announce the 2023 All-VYPE Public School Volleyball team presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
...
TEAM OF THE YEAR: Grand Oaks Grizzlies
Shana Willeford (VYPE)
It was already well-known prior the season that Grand Oaks was no joke.
The Grizzlies were shot out of a cannon from the start, and they never looked back, gaining momentum week after week.
Coach Morgan Rogers' group featured easily the most stacked, not to mention deepest rosters in Texas, with the likes of Jaela Auguste, Halle Thompson, Audrey Terry, Samara Coleman, Caelyn Emmerling, and Cali Reece propelling the team to new heights.
Here's a crazy stat for you...
This team gave up a mere nine sets in 51 matches throughout the Fall. That's how good they were.
In just their fifth season as a varsity program, Grand Oaks Volleyball claimed the school's first-ever state championship after defeating Cinco Ranch in the final game of the season, finishing the year with an overall record of 50-1 (16-0 in district).
COACH OF THE YEAR: Morgan Rogers, Grand Oaks
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Grand Oaks Volleyball Head Coach Morgan Rogers (seen on the left)
Naturally, the coach of a championship team should get this nod.
Rogers has been with the program since it started up in 2018. As they were entering the State Tournament, Rogers acknowledged that she and her staff recognized the potential of the 2020 freshmen class that stepped onto her court.
Lo and behold, that group would ultimately emerge as state champs just three seasons later, after falling in the Area round each year prior.
The Grand Oaks coach, her staff, and her athletes endured several obstacles and feats of adversity in order to reach this point, and they can now revel in the satisfaction of being the best.
ALL-VYPE TEAM PHOTO GALLERY: Peyton Fadal, Barbers Hill
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Ella Lewis, The Woodlands
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Anahi Alvarado, Tomball Memorial
Doug Brown (VYPE)
▲
Jaela Auguste
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Tinsley Welker, Fort Bend Austin
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Gabriella Martinez, Cinco Ranch
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
▲
Alice Volpe, Bridgeland
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
▲
Taylor Porter, Cypress Ranch
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
▲
Alexys James, Fulshear
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Audrey Terry, Grand Oaks
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Chloe Morgan, Barbers Hill
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Temi Sam-Olibale, Seven Lakes
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Avery Craig, Tomball Memorial
Doug Brown (VYPE)
▲
Nadi'ya Shelby, Friendswood
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Cayley Hanson, Deer Park
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Sydney Black, Fulshear
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Samara Coleman, Grand Oaks
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Addison Moss, Dawson
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
▲
Emily Killam, Cinco Ranch
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
▲
Kennedi Rogers, Ridge Point
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
▲
Adell Murray, Fort Bend Austin
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Kennedy Jones, Langham Creek
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
Brooklynn Merrell, Tompkins
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
▲
Lauren Witte, Fulshear
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
▲
Anzley Rinard, Clear Springs
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
▲
...
ALL-VYPE Public School Volleyball Team
Hitter of the Year:Bailey Warren, Fulshear
Middle of the Year:Jaela Auguste, Grand Oaks
Setter of the Year: Kassie O'Brien, Cinco Ranch
Libero/DS of the Year: Anahi Alvarado, Tomball Memorial
Newcomer of the Year: Tinsley Welker, Fort Bend Austin
...
First-Team
Hitter: Gabriella Martinez, Cinco Ranch
Hitter: Samara Coleman, Grand Oaks
Middle: Chloe Morgan, Barbers Hill
Setter: Peyton Fadal, Barbers Hill
Libero/DS: Alice Volpe, Bridgeland
Second-Team
Hitter:Ella Lewis, The Woodlands
Hitter: Avery Craig, Tomball Memorial
Middle:Sanaa Donaie, Goose Creek Memorial
Setter: Audrey Terry, Grand Oaks
Libero/DS: Morgan Madison, College Park
Third-Team
Hitter:Nadi’ya Shelby, Friendswood
Hitter: Temi Sam-Olibale, Seven Lakes
Middle: Sarah Odell, Tomball Memorial
Setter: Cayley Hanson, Deer Park
Libero/DS: Sydney Black, Fulshear
...
Honorable Mentions
Hitter
Taylor Porter, Cypress Ranch
Caelyn Emmerling, Grand Oaks
Makenna Loo, Cinco Ranch
Lauren Witte, Fulshear
Kennedy Jones, Langham Creek
Dominique Phills, Dawson
Kennedi Rogers, Ridge Point
Ariana Muoneke, Cy-Fair
Anzley Rinard, Clear Springs
Raylee Schaffner, Bridgeland
Avery Koonsen, Pearland
Middle
Sameena Burns, Seven Lakes
Emily Killam, Cinco Ranch
Jordan Taylor, Langham Creek
Adell Murray, Fort Bend Austin
Shea Rainosek, Cinco Ranch
Christin Cowart, Tompkins
Setter
Alexys James, Fulshear
Addison Moss, Dawson
Ashley Richardson, Clear Springs
Kenedy Massie, Manvel
Caroline Adams, Friendswood
Taryn Gilreath, Cypress Ranch
Libero/DS:
Maggie Finnegan, Cinco Ranch
Cali Reece, Grand Oaks
Megan Chapman, Seven Lakes
Morgan Durdens, Clear Springs
Gabrielle Kennedy, Fort Bend Austin
Brooklynn Merrell, Tompkins
Bianca Beverly, Cy-Fair
Erin Goodson, Deer Park