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Friendswood's Nadi'ya Shelby
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Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, as the Summer season continues to unfold.
Olivia Jones -- Clear Creek Volleyball
Sr. OH Olivia Jones (No. 8) alongside fellow stars of 2024-25 Clear Creek Volleyball
Photo acquired via Twitter (@Creek_Vball)
The Wildcats are coming off another impressive outing this past Fall, in which they finished second in District 24-6A prior to reaching the Area Round of the 2023 postseason.
In terms of the talent coming back for coach Scott Simonds this upcoming campaign, no player will be more valuable to Clear Creek than that of soon-to-be senior Olivia Jones.
From the outside hitter position, Jones led the team in kills a year ago, with 563, which earned her first-team, all-district honors.
While she is currently uncommitted, that will unlikely be the case in the coming months as she looks to repeat that effort in the ensuing Fall season.
Nadi'ya Shelby -- Friendswood Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
It didn't take long for audiences to become familiar with the name Nadi'ya Shelby.
The Friendswood and Houston Skyline super-star solidified herself as a bona fide game-changer in 2023, when she guided the Mustangs to an undefeated district championship and subsequent appearance in the Regional Quarterfinals.
In doing so, Shelby was named the District 18-5A MVP and the GHVCA 5A Hitter of the Year to add onto her growing list of accolades.
Most recently, the incoming junior OH officially announced her commitment to continue her career at the University of Florida, where she'll join the, now, graduated Jaela Auguste (Grand Oaks) in 2026.
Shelby, who also competes in basketball and track, will look to lead Friendswood once again this Fall, as they aim to represent H-Town in the State Tourney come November.
Cade Adams -- Pearland Baseball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
During Pearland's 2024 campaign, which saw them reach the UIL-6A State Final for the second-straight season, one of the subtle heroes of the ball-club was none other than their catcher Cade Adams.
While most eyes were on Nico Partida, John Moya, Walker Hurst, Jake Mader-Cooper, and Jaden Barfield, among others, Adams proceeded to shine despite not being in the constant spotlight.
He contributed numerous clutch hits in the Oilers' road back to State, and finished the year with a respectable .269 batting average.
While he competes for his club team (Marucci Elite), Adams -- who will be a senior in 2025 -- is committed to play for Southern Mississippi at the conclusion of his high school career, and will be a key figure in Pearland's roster a year from now.
Kenna Sambrano -- Lutheran South Academy Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
No Houston team was more dominant on the private school volleyball scene in 2023 than Lutheran South Academy.
The Pioneers concluded their campaign with a record of 41-8 and ended up as the TAPPS-5A State Runner-Up, which is a testament to the level of talent the program produces on an annual basis.
Kirra Musgrove (Texas A&M-commit) will get the majority of the praise, and rightfully so. However, volleyball is very much a team sport and the complementary performances of the team's other major players should not go unnoticed.
Speaking of which, incoming senior MB Kenna Sambrano is coming off a year in which she racked up nearly 300 kills, 56 blocks, and 42 digs to earn an all-state honorable mention.
Sambrano, along with Aniston Collins (Jr. S), Haleigh Pham (Sr. MB), and Jamie Faseler (Sr. DS) will play integral roles in LSA's run back to State in 2024.
Ryan Hernandez -- Clear Springs Baseball
The Chargers advanced all the way to the Regional Semis of the postseason this past Spring, on the heels of taking silver within District 24-6A.
Naturally, there were several post-season accolades doled out to the program's premier players -- the biggest stand-out being the, now, graduated Ryan Hernandez, who earned a unanimous first-team, all-district selection for his efforts in the outfield.
Hernandez will surely be missed, as he takes his talents to San Jacinto CC in the upcoming year. However, the standard he and his team continues to set will live long in the memory of the Clear Springs fan-base.