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Our top 10 preseason high school volleyball teams list led by 6A champion Dripping Springs

butch hart
·5 min read
Dripping Springs' Henley Anderson follows through on a spike during the Tigers' three-set sweep of Round Rock in the Class 6A regional quarterfinals last season at Burger Center. The Tigers went on to win the Class 6A state title and return a loaded team, including Anderson, the co-Central Texas player of the year.
Dripping Springs' Henley Anderson follows through on a spike during the Tigers' three-set sweep of Round Rock in the Class 6A regional quarterfinals last season at Burger Center. The Tigers went on to win the Class 6A state title and return a loaded team, including Anderson, the co-Central Texas player of the year.

Our top 10 teams in Central Texas — all classes combined — heading into the 2023 high school volleyball season:

1. Dripping Springs

The defending Class 6A state champions (43-13) return co-player of the year Henley Anderson as well as both setters, Sydney Lund and Presley Alford. The Tigers also have a key middle in 6-foot-2 junior Ashley Euston, who's attracting significant Division I recruiting attention. Riley Certain also returns on the outside. Veteran coach Michael Kane won his second ring at Dripping Springs to go with a fistful he won at St. Michael's and the Tigers appear poised for another deep playoff run.

2. Westlake

The Chaps (33-13) split their district series with Dripping Springs and return 6-foot-1 Lily Davis, who has committed to play beach volleyball for Texas, and standout libero Reese Emerick, a UT indoor volleyball pledge. The defensive front is anchored by 6-foot-3 Claire Wernli and solid outside hitter Reece Winkcompleck, who has committed to play beach for Arizona. There's buzz over 6-foot-3 freshman Allie Hudgins, who comes in off a stellar club season and is ranked as one of the top players nationally in her age group (along with Dripping Springs' Anderson and Georgetown's Addi Gaido).

3. Rouse

The regional runners-up and 10-time district champions, the Raiders (39-11) were top-ranked until they were upset by district rival Liberty Hill in the regional finals. Savannah Skopal, a fourth-year starter who has signed with Rice, is back as is Jadyn Wilgus, a standout middle blocker. Naara Tanco, a Texas State pledge, is at the other middle. Mary Schirpik returns at libero and Jade Key is moving into a critical outside hitter's role.

Westlake Chaparrals libero Reese Emerick (1) serves the ball against the Johnson Jaguars during the second set at the District 26-6A volleyball game on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at Johnson High School in Buda, TX.
Westlake Chaparrals libero Reese Emerick (1) serves the ball against the Johnson Jaguars during the second set at the District 26-6A volleyball game on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at Johnson High School in Buda, TX.

4. Liberty Hill

The Panthers were state semifinalists who went 42-11 last year after an amazing win over district champion Rouse in the regional finals, where they lost the first set 25-11 and then won three straight to go to state. Vanderbilt signee Gigi Mason powers the Panthers' offense; the southpaw outside averaged nearly five kills a set last year. Kealy Dirner, a Georgia State beach volleyball signee, is a six-rotation standout for the Panthers, who also return the hard-hitting duo of Annie Witt and Taylor Gaines.

“These girls had a great offseason, incredible success in their club seasons and I’m looking forward to us all being back in purple and seeing what we can do together,” Panthers coach Marie Bruce said.

5. Stony Point

Head coach Julie Miller has posted three straight winning seasons since taking over the program, but the playoffs have been elusive. This could be the year, though. The Tigers return the core of a well-coached, talented 26-20 team led by senior setter/right side standout Kylee Bagley, a powerful hitter and a returning all-district and All-Central Texas selection.

Outside hitter Carrie Weston was all-district, honorable mention All-Central Texas and is a skilled six-rotation hitter. The Tigers have athletic middle blocker Taliah Angwekwe on the net and the defense is led by senior libero Allie Beal. Bagley’s younger sister, sophomore Aubree Bagley, is a talented, all-district returnee who gives the Tigers a 6-2 offense led by the Bagleys.

6. Lake Travis

The Cavaliers were 39-12 last year, and the defending district champions beat Dripping Springs once and Westlake twice. Lake Travis was hit by graduation but still will be very, very good. The lone question is at libero. Alexa Earle and Cate Haley have defensive varsity experience, and LoLo Jose also is in the mix. Back are seniors Avery Hamlin, a dynamic setter-outside hitter pledged to Duke; Carrington Jaimes, a middle blocker who's committed to St. Edward's; right-side hitter Kacey Kazmierski; six-rotation standout Camden Besecker; right-side hitter Kat Shelton and defensive specialists Haley and Earle. Replacing outside hitter Logan Brannan (now at Notre Dame) is junior Lillie Hinton, while sophomore Adyson Davis will also be part of the hitting firepower.

7. Georgetown

Back for the Eagles is 6-foot-4 outside hitter Addi Gaido, who has doubled her total kills and improved her attack percentage by nearly 100 points over the past two seasons. She's highly regarded nationally and has an excellent court presence. Sensational libero Raegan Ramirez keys the defense, and middles McKenzie Bernard and Sophia Jazesf will also be crucial players. Georgetown looks for a district title and a long playoff run.

8. Round Rock

The District 25-6A co-champions (33-13) have a new coach: former Round Rock player Christi Dreier, who takes over for Diane Watson, who retired after 26 years and 23 playoff appearances. Standout setter Riley Clinton, who averaged nearly 10 assists per set, and 6-foot-3 middle blocker Molly Cravens, who had nearly 80 blocks, are both back, as are key players Coral Verrico, Morgan Houston, Alexa Ankerstar, Cali Jones, and Eleanor Thiel.

9. Weiss

The Wolfpack were 21-19 last year, winning 12 of their last 15 matches to finish second behind state-ranked Waco Midway. Weiss is a veteran team led by standouts Takyla Brown and Caylee Mejia; Brown, a junior committed to LSU, posted 829 assists, 24 digs, 19 blocks, 39 aces and 48 kills and Mejia earned Central Texas newcomer of the year honors after notching 483 kills and 343 digs. Also back are Sara Randall (390 kills) and Ashley Go (373 digs).

T10. Westwood

There's a new coach — former assistant coach Madison Smith — but the Warriors went 29-21 last year, have a nucleus of talent back and make up one of the smartest teams in Central Texas. Back is six rotation hitter Julia Hopkins, who averaged more than four kills per set, as well as senior setter Rachel Cai and Sahasra Mandalapu. The Warriors may struggle early — graduation took eight seniors from last year — but should be on track by the start of district.

T10. Wimberley

The Texans, 32-11 last year, play in a tough district but are strong fundamentally. Junior Laney Hennessee is a three-year starter who averaged 3.3 kills per set and totaled 420 on the season. Joining Hennessee in the Texans rotation are: Rhagen Masur, Jesse Weeks. Carson Peoples, Mariah McCoy, Kenslee Brown, Lilli Sandoval and Cortlyn Davis. Wimberley has six state titles in program history and a recent trip to the Final Four.

— Butch Hart

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: The top 10 Central Texas volleyball teams heading into the season