Growing number of talented players
Houston reached the AAA tournament in 2014, finishing fourth, and coach Becky Pendleton’s team looks like the area’s best title hopeful from the public schools again this year.
Four Mustangs have committed to play in college, middle blocker Krysta Medearis (Alabama State), libero Kylie Hayes (Tennessee State), middle blocker Rhonda White (Henderson State) and outside hitter McKenna Wharton (West Georgia). Add in talented veteran Kat Gries and you have potentially one of the best teams in Pendleton’s 14-year Houston career.
Bartlett also reached the AAA tournament last year, but longtime coach Sherrie Walker has the enviable task of trying to replace last year’s Pepsi Best of the Preps Player of the Year, Kenzie Fields. Junior Ariel Goforth and talented 6-0 freshman Karagan Coggin will be keys. At
Collierville, Kenny Gass also has a lot of new faces; Ansley Matthews and Ariana Graves are the two returning starters, and they’ll get help from returnee Kate Sammons and newcomer Gabby Harris.
Arlington coach Rebekah Sanders likes her team’s athleticism and potential; outside hitter Caragan Harville and middle blocker Hayley Smith lead the returnees. White Station’s hopes will ride on one of the area’s top players, outside hitter Abigail Duncan. The Spartans could get a push from DeKyra Dennis and Central, which has started well under first-year coach Porsha Parks.
Carla Anderton’s Briarcrest went 36-13 and finished third in the state in Division 2-AA last year and will be a strong contender again with just about everyone returning. Junior Callie Anderton has committed to Murray State and was the only non-senior among the five BOP finalists in 2014. Classmate Kendal Strand has committed to Samford and is the team’s go-to player. Alyiah Wells and Carsyn Starr combined for 216 blocks; Hannah Cox recorded 602 digs.
The remaining teams in D2AA West should also be strong. MTSU commitment Taylor Hasley, Constance Connelly and Emma Sorrells lead a veteran St.
Agnes team, while Kate Grace Cunningham and Chayce Foster will be keys for Hutchison. St.
Benedict lost a lot to graduation but has two excellent rebuilding
blocks in Anna Graziosi and Bailey Cochran.
St. George’s lost BOP finalist Roxanna Wood to graduation but returns pretty much everyone else and should make a push for the D2-A championship. Among the talented returnees for coach Emmy McClain are Sope Adeleye, Sophia Quesada and Sarah Thompson, and there’s a very promising newcomer in Annika Thompson.
Tommy Danner’s ECS team finished state runner-up in 2014 and will be tough once more thanks to the return of Olivia Allen and Kelsey Crunk. Harding has impressed early this year under Alyssa Hall; the Lions have a pair of big hitters on the outside in Lauren Deaton and Katie Short. St. Mary’s could surprise thanks in large part to the addition of talented out-ofstate transfer Carmen Freeman to go along with returnee Allison James.