GAMES
RANKINGS
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
2019 VYPE Austin Public School Volleyball Sleepers
Lake Travis earned 32 wins and a UIL 6A bi-district finish in 2018, and has the necessary returning talent to have a better year in 2019. The Cavaliers are expected to lean on senior setter Abi Watts, as well as college recruits Arden Besecker, Jamison Wheeler, Mykenna Eklund, Jorden Jaimes and Keely Hamilton. Besecker is a Florida State beach volleyball commit, Wheeler is a SMU volleyball commit, Eklund is an Oral Roberts volleyball commit, Jaimes is a SFA beach volleyball commit and Hamilton is a University of Tampa beach volleyball commit.
Hays Rebels (Reached 2018 UIL 6A Bi-District Round)
Hays recorded a lot of second half success in 2018, so it finished last season with 28 wins and a trip to the opening round of the UIL 6A playoffs. The Rebels are expected to continue their winning ways under new head coach Ashley Davis in 2019 because they have a pair of Texas State commits in Ryann Torres and Trista Strasser. Torres is a senior setter and Strasser is a junior middle blocker. Other players to watch are junior right side hitter Madelyn Krafka, senior outside hitter Sydney Collins and sophomore outside hitter Joselyn Roberson.
Johnson City Lady Eagles (Reached 2018 UIL 3A Region IV quarterfinal)
Johnson City won 33 of its 41 games and advanced to the UIL 3A Region IV quarterfinal in 2018, so it'll contend for its fifth consecutive playoff berth in 2019. The Lady Eagles have two starters back from last year's run, so they will lean on key returning talent to stay on track. Middle blockers Kalli Dalland (2020 Lubbock Christian University commit) and McKenna Cowsert, and outside hitters Reagan Weirich and Paige Dalland are expected to lead the pack, but don't underestimate the talent of libero Olivia Adair.
Wimberley Texans (Reached 2018 UIL 4A Area Round)
Wimberley advanced to the 2018 UIL 4A area round because it recorded twice as many wins as losses, and has the necessary returning players to advance to a 25th consecutive postseason in 2019. The Texans have a versatile player in Olivia Linton, who is an outside hitter, middle blocker and opposite hitter. Joining her is opposite hitter Rayna Pack, middle blocker Payton Knight and outside hitter Holly Harwood. Pack is a Lubbock Christian University commit and Knight will play beyond high school at Mary Hardin-Baylor. Other depth will come from Paige Crawford, Brina Jones, Jordan McFarland and Rhyan Masur.
Lockhart Lady Lions (Reached 2018 UIL 5A Bi-district Round)
Lockhart won 28 games and advanced to the UIL 5A bi-district round in 2018, but has to turn to new leaders in 2019. The Lady Lions only have two returning starters, so the roles of outside hitters Kallie Krenz and Kaylee Reynolds, libero Karleigh Caudillo and defensive specialist Lani Adair will be enhanced this season. Additional depth will come from setter Mikayla Leyva and middle blocker MaKynzee Reynolds, who round out the roster.
La Grange Leopards (Reached 2018 UIL 4A Bi-District Round)
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
La Grange has spent the past 15 years making the UIL postseason, so it plans on extending the streak and building on last year's run to the UIL 4A bi-district round in 2019. The Leopards will lean on a trio that includes outside hitter Becca Heinrich, setter Aly Trlicek and defensive specialist Harley Rohde. Additional depth will come from outside hitters Lanie Doyle and Natalie Blackwell. Coach Leslie Coltrain also plans on using a faster offense and a scrappier defense to further her team's chances.
Burton Panthers (Reached 2018 UIL 2A Region IV Final)
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
Burton has clinched 10 consecutive UIL postseason appearances and advanced to the 2018 UIL 2A Region IV Final, so it has large expectations for the 2019 season. The Panthers have key athletes in defensive specialists Izbel Aguilar and Michaela Wilke, outside hitter Kyndal Coufal, setter Alex Countouriotis and middle hitter Cheyanne Bluntson.
Fayetteville Lions (Reached 2018 UIL 1A Region IV Final)
Fayetteville made a run to the 2018 UIL 1A Region IV Final, so it's aiming high for the 2019 season. The Lions are still expected to go a couple rounds deep in the 2019 postseason because outside hitter/defensive specialist Gracie Dyer and outside hitter Colby Deatherage are back for their senior year, and libero/setter Jackie Titus and outside hitter Avery Diggs are back for their sophomore season. Other notable figureheads are junior setter Landry Wied and freshman outside hitter Brooklyn Jaeger.
Hutto Hippos (Reached 2018 UIL 5A Region III Quarterfinal)
Hutto won 38 games and advanced to the UIL 5A Region III Quarterfinal in 2018, but is working hard to fill starter spots in 2019. The Hippos only have one returning starter, so the play of middle blocker Dashia Williams and defensive specialists Mia Lozoria and Alyssa Terrazas will be important.
Bastrop Bears (Reached 2018 UIL 5A Bi-District Round)
Bastrop only advanced to the opening round of the UIL 5A postseason in 2018, but has the necessary senior class to go a couple rounds deep in 2019. The Bears have a setter/right side hitter in Caitlyn Harman, libero Caela McGee, defensive specialist Averi Allen, and outside hitters Bella Delarosa and Zoey Croft.
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Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
2019 VYPE San Antonio Public School Volleyball Sleepers
San Antonio Reagan won 33 games en route to a UIL 6A bi-district finish in 2018, so it's motivated to bounce back in 2019. The Rattlers will lean on junior libero Maddie Correa, senior outside hitter Lylah Washington and senior setter Madeleine Stolzer. Correa is a 2021 Texas Tech commit, Washington is a 2020 Lehigh recruit, and Stolzer will play at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2020.
Medina Valley Panthers (Reached 2018 UIL 5A area round)
Medina Valley won 29 games and recorded a UIL 5A area round finish in 2018, so it's planning on building off of that in 2019. The Panthers have a dual-threat in setter/right side hitter Kamryn Griggs and a Clemson 2021 commit in middle blocker Kyla Solis, so they can advance to the UIL playoffs for a second consecutive season. Along with them, you can also expect big roles from middle blocker/outside hitter Meghan Haan and outside hitter Hannah Hurtado.
Goliad Tigerettes (Reached 2018 UIL 3A Region IV final)
Goliad advanced to the 2018 UIL 3A Region IV final, but only two its five all-state players return for the 2019 season. The Tigerettes will lean on outside hitter/right side hitter Ashlyn Davis and setter/right side hitter Mollee Henicke. The upperclassmen are coming off all-state honorable mention seasons.
Sinton Lady Pirates (Reached 2018 UIL 4A area round)
Sinton advanced to the area round of the UIL 4A postseason in 2018, and has the necessary returning players to clinch an 18th consecutive playoff appearance in 2019. The Lady Pirates will lean on junior outside hitters Autumn Moses and Emma Thomas, senior setter Hannah Gallegos, and junior libero Courtney Hesseltine. Their roster depth continues with sophomore setter/hitter Annie Kay, and senior middle blockers Anna and Stella Thomas.
Shiner Lady Comanches (Reached 2018 UIL 2A area round)
Shiner marched to the second round of the 2018 UIL 2A postseason, so it's motivated to build off the success in 2019. The Lady Comanches still have senior setter/right side hitter Carley Hewig and junior libero Kiley Michalec, who are both coming off all-state honorable mention campaigns.
Boerne Champion Chargers (Reached 2018 UIL 5A Region IV final)
Boerne Champion marched to the UIL 5A Region IV final in 2018, and plans to continue its winning ways under new head coach Jessica Tully-Mitchell in 2019. Mackenzie Davidson, who is the Chargers' top returning player, will have a big role in the transition, but Tully-Mitchell also needs her team to be productive, efficient and vocal on both sides of the ball.
La Vernia Bears (Reached 2018 UIL 4A Region IV semifinal)
La Vernia recorded a 40-win season and a UIL 4A Region IV semifinal appearance in 2018, so it plans to clinch its 13th consecutive trip to the UIL postseason in 2019. To match or surpass last year's finish, the Bears will need big years from outside hitter/middle blocker Meghan Stiefer, middle blocker Madelynn Wallace, setter Emily Reinhard, and outside hitter Lainey Bullard.
Johnson City Lady Eagles (Reached 2018 UIL 3A Region IV quarterfinal)
Johnson City won 33 of its 41 games and advanced to the UIL 3A Region IV quarterfinal in 2018, so it'll contend for its fifth consecutive playoff berth in 2019. The Lady Eagles have two starters back from last year's run, so they will lean on key returning talent to keep them on track. Middle blockers Kalli Dalland (2020 Lubbock Christian University commit) and McKenna Cowsert, and outside hitters Reagan Weirich and Paige Dalland are expected to lead the pack, but don't underestimate the talent of libero Olivia Adair.
Wimberley Texans (Reached 2018 UIL 4A area round)
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
Wimberley advanced to the 2018 UIL 4A area round because it recorded twice as many wins as losses, and has the necessary returning players to advance to a 25th consecutive postseason in 2019. The Texans have a versatile player in Olivia Linton, who is an outside hitter, middle blocker and opposite hitter. Joining her is opposite hitter Rayna Pack, middle blocker Payton Knight and outside hitter Holly Harwood. Pack is a Lubbock Christian University commit and Knight will play beyond high school at Mary Hardin-Baylor. Other depth will come from Paige Crawford, Brina Jones, Jordan McFarland and Rhyan Masur.
Boerne Greyhounds (Reached 2018 UIL 4A area round)
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
Boerne won a playoff game in the UIL 4A playoffs in 2018, and has the necessary returning talent to extend its playoff streak to nine seasons in 2019. The Greyhounds will lean on outside hitters Jasmine Nelson and Brianna Brock, middle blocker Corine Kadric, setter Mackenzie Vasquez (2020 Notre Dame softball commit) and defensive specialist Addison Amick, but don't forget about the contributions of middle blocker/right side hitter Hayley Kavanagh and right side hitter Anna Story.
For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPESATX) on Twitter.
Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.