Here is a team-by-team season preview of the Class 5A and 4A volleyball teams in Montgomery County.
Magnolia, Magnolia West, Montgomery and Lake Creek play in District 21-5A. Porter plays in District 16-5A. Splendora and West Fork, playing its inaugural year of varsity, will be in 20-4A.
Lake Creek
Lake Creek tied its best in single-season wins with 32 last year. It made history by making the state tournament for the first time.
The Lions authored a memorable postseason run, finishing second in district play at 11-3 before sweeping four of five playoff games. They eventually were swept by Colleyville Heritage in the Class 5A semifinal.
However, a new leader is at the top in Sheila Daniels, who replaces Taryn Jordan. Jordan stepped down as head coach after two seasons to focus on her family.
Daniels comes to Lake Creek after working in Montgomery ISD administration since 2018. She was previously the head coach at Montgomery High for three years and an assistant at Magnolia before that.
Lake Creek is Daniels’ second head coaching stint.
“I’m excited for growth and broadening their skill set,” Daniels said. “We have some amazing talent at LCHS and new faces in the program that will bring a lot to the table.”
The goal remains the same: State.
Chemistry is a strength for the Lions this year. Substantial production was lost with the graduation of Peyton Woods, Lauren Vickery, Lauren Green and RyLee McAlexander, but there is more than enough talent back.
The Lions have a strong junior class in libero Kennedy Schramm, outside hitter Emerson Caltabiano and outside hitter/setter Peyton McKee. Senior outside hitters Sarah Caminita and Ashlyn Kilgore add experience and leadership.
Magnolia
Magnolia is becoming a perennial playoff participant like it was early last decade. Now the hope is to get back to competing for district titles.
The Bulldogs have a few key returners from last year’s team that went 23-13 overall and finished fourth in district at 8-6.
Senior setter Kira Braun compiled 1,505 assists, 359 digs, 91 kills, 75 aces and 25 blocks last season. Senior outside hitter Chloe Richards totaled 628 kills, 639 assists, 480 digs, 82 aces and 71 blocks.
Defensively, senior Allie Gentry and sophomore Henlee Moszkowicz return to lead the way. Gentry had 605 digs, 71 assists and 45 aces last year. Moszkowicz had a strong freshman varsity debut with 296 digs and 32 aces.
“The strengths of this year’s team are their communication skills and their desire to go out and play volleyball and play for each other,” Bulldogs coach Brooke Neal said. “They are a close group of girls, and it will be fun to watch them come together as the season progresses. We want to continue to grow as a program, as a team and as individuals as the season progresses.”
Magnolia West
Magnolia West has made the playoffs three of the last four seasons. The Mustangs went 24-14 last season and return most of their offensive talent.
Sophomore setter Shannon Dworaczyk had a brilliant freshman year, posting 663 assists, 314 digs, 170 kills and 33 aces.
Junior outside hitter Sydnie Mullens compiled 174 kills and 78 digs. Senior outside hitter/middle hitter Olivia Cruz had 156 kills, 95 digs, 46 blocks and 30 aces.
Magnolia West lost two integral talents in the graduation of outside hitter Evyn Snook (now playing at UT-Arlington) and libero Kassidy Johnson (Howard Payne).
Still, coach Kristin Lemoine expects chemistry and youth to be strengths of her club.
“We have a young team this season and athletes with a lot of passion for the game of volleyball,” Lemoine said. “They enjoy cheering each other on and being each other’s biggest supporters in the highs and lows.”
Lemoine said the primary improvement for her team is getting the young talent acclimated to the speed of the varsity game.
“Our athletes want to continue to challenge their knowledge to new levels and progress throughout the season with tempo,” she said.
Lemoine said goals are to improve upon last season’s record and continue their recent run of making the playoffs.
Montgomery
After two wildly successful seasons in which it won a combined 22 games in district play, Montgomery hit a wall last year.
The Bears went winless in district play and won 17 games overall. The 17 wins were the lowest since they won 12 in 2019.
But second-year coach Stormi Champion is optimistic about this year’s Bears, noting a stronger work ethic, team chemistry and motivation.
“Really excited about the potential of us being successful,” Champion said. “We are returning a lot of key players that have really developed over offseason and the summer. We are ready to surprise some people.”
Those returners include senior setter Kaysie Lynch (296 assists, 170 digs, 30 aces), junior libero Ellie Sadler (206 digs, 24 aces), junior outside hitter McKenzie Hope (229 kills, 142 digs, 31 blocks, 21 aces) and sophomore middle hitter Savannah Welch (115 kills, 99 digs, 71 blocks and 42 aces).
They will attempt to make up for the lost production in graduates Presli Harts, Bella Fiaschetti and Abby Meador.
Champion said this year’s goal is to compete and finish higher in a tough district. That will be dependent upon closing games. Champion said it will be crucial for her team to stay composed and win tight matches.
Porter
Porter is eyeing a fourth consecutive playoff appearance. The Spartans went 13-25 last year, but 5-6 in district play to take the fourth and final postseason spot in District 16-5A.
The unfortunate news is Porter has been swept in every playoff game over the last three years.
The promising news is it’s a new day in Spartan land. Dani Elmore is in as head coach. She likes that she has a team hungry to take the Spartans to the next level.
“Our goal is to make it to the playoffs and the area round,” she said.
The Spartans return senior setter Carmen Condarco, senior middle hitter Cora Ashcroft and senior libero Kayden Pate.
Elmore said the team will need to be better finishing games and putting teams away and executing the game plan.
“It’s going to be an adjustment with a new head coach and whole new coaching staff, but these players are eager to learn and want to be challenged,” Walker said. “Those are great combos for a successful season.”
Splendora
Heidi Otto leads a Splendora program that has made the playoffs each of the last four seasons.
Otto was formerly head coach at Caney Creek from 2019-2021 and spent last year as an assistant coach at Conroe.
She takes the helm of a Wildcats program two years removed from the regional semifinals. Splendora made the regional quarterfinals last year, when it went 23-20 and 7-3 in district play.
Despite the program’s success, Otto is the fourth head coach for Splendora since 2018.
“The goal is to play as one,” she said. “It’s a combination of some varsity experience with some not-new-to-varsity faces but new-to-starting-varsity faces.”
The Wildcats graduated three key seniors but have a nice returning core of talent.
Junior setter Maddy Garza had 333 assists, 120 kills and 51 aces last season. Junior Kaitlyn Collins tallied 359 kills and 22 blocks. Senior libero Katie Unterreiner compiled 717 digs and 31 aces.
Otto said chemistry and energy are strengths of this year’s team. She added offensive tempo and kill percentage will have to be better.
West Fork
West Fork, New Caney ISD’s newest high school, will play an inaugural varsity schedule this year with only freshmen and sophomores.
The Gators played a freshman schedule last year.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for these youngsters to get to compete against some of the best teams in the state,” Gators coach Tammy White said.
It’s also an exciting time for White, who is an assistant athletic coordinator. It is her first administrative role in 25 years in education.
White was hired in April 2022 to start the West Fork volleyball program. The school opened last fall.
Before coming to West Fork, White spent six years at Huffman-Hargrave after opening up Kingwood Park in 2007. At Huffman-Hargrave, White coached the Falcons to the Region III-4A tournament all six seasons.
