The John Cooper Dragons return to action this season as Courtney Hunnicutt (Eckenrode) is set for her second season as head coach.
This year, the Dragons are tasked at a better finish to the season. Last year, Cooper went 16-15 overall and Hunnicutt said the team’s top goal is to improve on that and have a stronger finish in the Southwest Preparatory Conference South Division.
The Dragons were 5-3 there a year ago and finished the regular season in third place behind unbeaten Episcopal and St. John’s, which had two losses in second place.
Hunnitcutt has two key players returning in Julianne Hon, a junior outside hitter, and Finley Wheeler, a sophomore libero/defensive specialist.
Last year, Hon had 254 kills and a .116 hitting percentage. She also contributed majorly defensively with 473 digs and sent in 78 aces.
Wheeler had 398 digs, 108 assists and 51 aces last year.
The Dragons will need to fill the void left by setter Lauren Wolford, outside hitter Rivers Kolesar and middle blocker Grace Minarovic, who all graduated.
Hunnitcutt said ball and control and defense will be a strength this year.
“We will be small but mighty,” she said.
Cooper begins the season Tuesday at home against the Village School.
The Woodlands Christian Academy
The Woodlands Christian Academy missed the playoffs a year ago in TAPPS District 5-5A.
The Warriors record on MaxPreps was 8-13-1.
TWCA’s last playoff appearance came in 2020.
No other information was provided by TWCA.
Legacy Prep
Legacy Prep finished in third place last season in TAPPS District 4-4A.
After a bye in the first round of the playoffs, Legacy Prep was swept by Scherz John Paul II in the area round.
No other information was provided by Legacy Prep.
Conroe Covenant
The Cougars finished third place in TAPPS District 6-2A last year and won in the first round of the playoffs.
Covenant defeated Shiner St. Paul in a tightly-contested five-set match.
In the area round, the Cougars fell to Dallas First Baptist in a sweep.
No other information was provided by Covenant Christian.
