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ONE OF A KIND: Kempner's Ochelli A Blossoming Star
NOT ONLY WAS RUTH OCHELLI ONE OF EIGHT FRESHMEN PLAYING VARSITY VOLLEYBALL IN FORT BEND ISD LAST SEASON, BUT SHE WAS ALSO THE ONLY ONE TO BE NAMED TO AN ALL-DISTRICT FIRST OR SECOND TEAM.
Not too bad for a 15-year-old who only started playing the game three years ago.
Ochelli, Kempner’s 5-foot-11 sophomore outside hitter, compiled 186 kills, 84 digs, 55 aces and 29 blocks for the 20-18 Cougars last year and was named to District 24-5A’s second team.
Oh, and she did all that while playing a new position.
“It was nerve-wracking at first. I’d never played outside (hitter) before, so playing that really helped me with my passing and defense,” said Ochelli, who played middle blocker in junior high. “I was able to be more of a versatile player, and I was able to take that and use it for club (season). In club, I played middle, I played right, I played outside. Now I can play anywhere in the front row.”
Now Ochelli is a blossoming prospect in the Class of 2025. She helped her Houston Skyline 15 black club team—one of Skyline’s two top national teams—to the USA Volleyball Junior Nationals in Indianapolis in July.
Rachel Kessler, then Kempner’s head volleyball coach, now coaching her alma mater at Fort Bend Travis, was drawn to Ochelli’s coachability as an incoming freshman.
Ochelli learned and she adapted, early and often, without complaint.
“Ruth doesn’t understand how good she really is,” Kessler said after 11 games last season. “I love that about her. She has a lot of confidence, but she’s not overconfident. She knows she has a lot to learn, to build. She’s got a lot of potential and room for growth.”
Though a relative newcomer to the sport, Ochelli has never lacked faith in her abilities. As an eighth grader, she remembers going up to Kessler and asking when varsity tryouts would be.
Ochelli always wanted to play varsity as a freshman. She knew she had what it took. She is a natural athlete and showed advanced hitting skills for her age the moment she picked up a volleyball.
“It shows that even though I’d never played the position coach wanted me at, she saw enough potential in me to do it,” Ochelli said of making varsity as a freshman. “I think it shows my work ethic.”
Ochelli said she is grateful for Kessler, who became more than just a coach. She is a trusted friend.
“She was always there for me, always there to give me advice about club or school,” Ochelli said. “I knew I could come to her about anything, even if it wasn’t about volleyball. Even though she’s at another school, I still feel I can reach out to her today.”
Ochelli said her offense is what improved the most throughout last season, specifically hitting and shot selection. She expects her serve-receive to be better this year after working hard this summer to be more accurate with her passes.
“We lost a lot of seniors that had a really good impact on our team,” Ochelli said. “I just want us to make the playoffs. I think we have a really good shot if we play together and as a team.”
Kempner freshman Noey Do, center, is pictured with the Class 5A boys singles state championship trophy on Wednesday morning.
Kempner’s Do sweeps through state to take 5A singles title
Freshman Noey Do capped off a remarkable debut campaign by making Kempner tennis history Wednesday morning, becoming the first Cougar boys singles player to win state.
Do beat Mission Sharyland’s Alan Gonzales, 6-2, 6-4, in the Class 5A boys singles state final at the Northside Tennis Center in Helotes. Do did not lose a set in three state tournament matches to become Kempner’s first tennis state champion since Bryan Wooten and Sydney Jim won the boys doubles state title in 2000.
“To be the first boys singles winner at state for my school, it feels great to be able to represent my school and accomplish something like this for Kempner,” Do said.
Do defeated Lubbock’s Andrew Azatian, 6-1, 6-2 in the opening round of the state tournament. He followed that by beating McAllen Memorial’s Agustin Salazar, 6-0, 6-2, in the semifinal.
Do finished the spring season 20-0.
“Before the tournament, I practiced so hard that I really believed I would do well,” Do said. “And after that first match, I was like, hey, I really do have the opportunity to win the tournament. I just kept that within myself the rest of the way.
“I wanted it so much. Every point I lost, I kept telling myself not to worry about it and play on. Every point I won, I was like, ‘I’m going to get this. I’m going to get this.’ It was just my mindset, persevering through tough times.”
Do went from having to battle for his varsity spot in the fall to making history for Cougars tennis.
“When I first got here, I had to fight for my position,” Do said. “Then the tournaments throughout the season went really well. I had to fight just like I had to today. Every match was really worth something to me. My confidence in winning matches really improved overall.”
Do credits two things for his success. One is his cardio. Do said he has been doing long distance running since the fifth grade and has been working on endurance ever since.
“I really believe I can outlast my opponent, no matter what,” Do said. “I can out-grind him to where he will eventually miss serves.”
Do also has a sharp backhand, which he relies on during the toughest of moments during matches. It’s his go-to during pressure situations.
“It’s my best shot,” he said.
Do started playing tennis eight years ago. It has been a match ever since. He also won the Region III-5A and District 24-5A championships.
“I really love how this sport combines a lot of things about you,” Do said. “You have to have your mental, your techniques and your technical. You have to have a little bit of everything to achieve your goal of winning a match.”
Do is the first singles state champion in Fort Bend ISD in 10 years. He is confident his best is still to come.
“I believe one of my weaknesses is my serve,” he said. “I get nervous. So, I’ll work on that and hopefully will be even better my sophomore year.”