ELLA LEWIS IS THE NEW FACE OF THE WOODLANDS VOLLEYBALL.
The Highlanders reached the State Final Four last season and is considered a Top 10 power program in the state of Texas over the past two decades.
The junior first-team, all-district selection follows the likes of Clara Brower (Georgia), Sophie Walls (Penn State), Courtney Eckenrode (Missouri), Georgia Murphy (Oregon), Katie Messing (Pepperdine), and Dylan Maberry (LSU), just to name a few.
Her teammates in 2022 were Molly Tuozzo (Kentucky) and Claire Dewine (Colgate), who were Lone Star State superstars.
Now she carries the torch.
“Sure, there is a lot of pressure but I’m definitely excited,” she said. “I’ve been starting as a freshman (District Newcomer of the Year) and sophomore, so I know I’m good enough to be here. I earned my teammates’ respect over the years, but now I’m the upperclassman.”
The junior-to-be will be the undisputed voice on the court, leading a team with limited varsity experience.
“I know what everyone thinks,” she said. “We don’t have all the pieces back we did last year, but you have to remember, I’ve been playing with these girls my entire life and they are really good. Now, it’s their chance to shine. This will be a completely different team.”
While the faces may change, the goals stay the same at The Woodlands.
“For me, I want to be a six-rotation player as an outside,” she said. “I don’t want to leave the court. As a team, the goal is to win district. If you can win this district, you can go a long way in the playoffs. Our saying this year is, ‘Believe Big’ and that is what we plan to do.”
Lewis may have a chance to play with her twin, Abby, this year who has been more focused on dance growing up.
“We are pretty different, even today,” Ella said. “We are in the same friend group of course and she started really getting into volleyball later than me.”
If she wasn’t playing volleyball?
“I’d probably be in choir or golf,” she laughed. “My mom went to LSU for music and we sang growing up. Or I would be just watching Grey's Anatomy or reading books like, ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’.”
While she hasn’t committed yet, she could see herself playing in California and potentially coaching volleyball after her career wraps up.
“That would be fun,” she said. “I think I would be a pretty good coach. I have a pretty chill personality but secretly I’m trying to win at all costs. In everything.”
Much like the ones who came before her who wore the red and green proudly over the years.