GAMES
RANKINGS
Some of the stars of 2023-24 Pearland Volleyball
REACHING THE PEAK: Pearland primed for more with playoffs looming
Under the direction of coach Jamie Gill, Pearland is preparing for the imminent postseason.
“Having a lot of returners coming back that know the expectations has been tremendous for us,” said GIll. “These girls have trusted the process of where we start on day one, and how we work throughout the season.”
“We’re peaking at the right time. We’ve experienced a lot of injuries this year, so the fact that we’re healthy at this time in the season is very helpful.”
In the three seasons she has been with the program, Gill has brought plenty to the table, which continues to elevate her team on a yearly basis.
“I put a lot of emphasis on the little things, like discipline and doing the right thing off the court,” she said. “We work out consistently and we focus on mental health. There’s plenty of communication between the kids and the coaching staff.”
“The girls have to be comfortable being uncomfortable is a good way to put it. They’re put in situations where they deal with adversity and they learn to work through it. We have a lot of talent at Pearland, but it has to transfer over to the mental game and being able to push back when there’s pressure.”
That mentality has certainly paid off, now that Pearland (32-10; 10-1 in district) is looking at a co-district championship alongside Dawson, due to their season split.
Mia Ramirez
Everything is clicking on all cylinders on the court, with Avery Koonsen (So. OH), Kimanni Rugley (Jr. MH), Mia Ramirez (Sr. L), and Nadia Dunn (Sr. OH) being among the premier playmakers for the talented squad.
So, what’s it going to take to keep this momentum rolling into the playoffs?
“We’re going to have to keep doing what we’re doing,” Gill said. “Continuing to be healthy will be essential, and they’ll have to keep trusting in each other and in themselves. That’s something they’ve gotten really good at – being pumped up for each other. If that continues, then the possibilities are endless for this group.”
With only one game remaining in the regular season, something tells us that Pearland is destined for a deep playoff run. They’ve made themselves well-known in H-Town and will be a prime contender come November.
Jacorey Watson of Shadow Creek Football
THE PLAYMAKERS: Houston's tone-setters powered by UTMB Health
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, as the Fall season continues to heat up.
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Kennedy Jones, Dawson Volleyball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
It's no secret that Dawson Volleyball has been on a tear throughout this Fall. With a current a record of 31-8, which includes an undefeated (8-0) district campaign to date, it's not hard to see why the Eagles have quickly ascended in our weekly rankings.
Dawson's success can be attributed to the depth they have on the offensive side of the net, which of course includes the talents of junior MH Kennedy Jones.
Alongside fellow play-maker Addison Moss, Jones has been an exemplary weapon towards the Eagles' surge through district. As it stands, Jones has eclipsed 200 kills on the year, while also being a team-leader in blocks (64) and hitting percentage (0.371).
With only a handful of district matches remaining in the season, including a must-see between Dawson and Pearland, Jones and co. appear to be one of the most formidable groups in H-Town.
Jackson Waid, Clear Falls Football
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
After beginning the season 0-3 -- albeit against some of the more formidable teams in Houston -- Clear Falls is making a comeback.
Following the commencement of district-play, the Knights have capitalized against their various district counterparts to emerge as a potential playoff team, as they currently rank third with a 2-1 record.
That is thanks primarily to an exceptional effort on offense, backed up by a stout defense headlined by Jackson Waid. The senior linebacker is currently averaging roughly 11 tackles per game, which includes 3.5 sacks on the year. He's displayed a proficiency to disrupt the pass of the edge, plug up holes in the run-game, as well as provide assistance in the pass-defense.
With a relatively weaker schedule remaining in the regular season, it seems that a playoff return is in the cards for Clear Falls.
Aniston Collins, Lutheran South Academy Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
LSA Volleyball is a force worth reckoning, no doubt about it.
The Pioneers and district rival FBCA make up the dual-powerhouses that could potentially vye the TAPPS-5A crown within the next couple of months.
Between fellow play-makers, such as Texas A&M-commit Kirra Musgrove (Jr. S) and Taylor Crain (Sr. L), several noteworthy pieces of this surging squad can get lost in the mix. Enter Aniston Collins (So. S).
As only sophomore, one of LSA's premier athletes has risen to the occasion time and time again. Collins has already surpassed 600 assists on the season and it doesn't appear that she'll cease to dish the ball to her teammates at that rate anytime soon.
Only a few weeks now before the playoffs begin. Remember the name.
Jacorey Watson, Shadow Creek Football
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Aside from a one-score (20-13) loss to district opponent Pearland, the Sharks have been near perfect all season.
The defense has been clicking on all cylinders, and the offense has been as proficient as ever. Let's give some credit to Shadow Creek's signal-caller. Initially listed as a wide-receiver, junior Jacorey Watson has stepped into the role of the team's QB seamlessly.
Given his athleticism, Watson has established himself as a true dual-threat weapon, having thrown ten touchdowns, while adding four more on the ground for over 150 yards.
Considering the depth on defense, Watson wasn't required to do much to help his team be successful. However, the Shadow Creek junior has made it his mission to take that expectation one step further, now that he has led the Sharks to a 5-1 start, with a manageable remaining schedule before the postseason.
Kimanni Rugley, Pearland Volleyball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Similar to their district rival Dawson, Pearland is also one of the select few in the top-10 of our rankings in Class 6A.
With a record of 30-10 (8-1 in district), the Oilers are primed for a lengthy run in the upcoming UIL playoffs. Given the considerable threats they pose in every facet of the game, it is difficult for any opponent to contend with this squad.
In addtion to the strides that Avery Koonsen (So. OH) and Nadia Dunn (Sr. OH), and Mia Ramirez (Sr. L) have made on the court, junior MH Kimanni Rugley has been a formidable weapon in Pearland's offensive scheme. Rugley currently leads the Oilers in blocks (110) and hitting percentage (0.464), while also tallying nearly 200 kills on the season.
With the postseaon nearing, Rugley will certainly be a valuable asset towards Pearland's imminent playoff push.