KATY — Grand Oaks volleyball coach Morgan Rogers had no idea what to expect at the Katy/Cy-Fair tournament this weekend.
Without star senior middle blocker Jaela Auguste, who was in Croatia this weekend helping the United States’ U19 team to a world championship gold-medal win, Rogers did not know who would step up and how the considerable absence would affect her girls.
All the Grizzlies did was go out and do something they had not done.
In its fifth year of varsity play, Grand Oaks earned its first Katy/Cy-Fair tournament championship in demonstrative fashion, thwarting previously unbeaten Stratford 25-15, 25-13 in the gold bracket title game Saturday at Cinco Ranch High.
The Grizzlies are 9-0. They dropped one set over the three-day, 49-team tournament, which they ran through 8-0, beating Cy-Creek, Dulles, Katy Taylor, College Station, Cy Ranch, New Braunfels Canyon, San Antonio Brandeis and Stratford.
“We knew we had to fill that hole missing with Jaela,” said junior outside hitter Samara Coleman, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after tallying 10 kills and 11 digs in the championship. “We had a chip on our shoulder. We had something to prove. Everyone knew we didn’t have a big piece, so maybe we were underestimated.”
Grand Oaks beat San Antonio Brandeis 25-9, 25-19 in the semifinal earlier Saturday. Brandeis is two years removed from a Class 6A state championship.
“I didn’t know how it’d look,” Rogers said. “But everybody stepped up and did what they needed to do. I could not be more proud.”
The Grizzlies were dominant against Stratford (8-1), which swept Seven Lakes in its semifinal, 25-21, 25-21, and won 12 of 15 sets in the tournament before falling to Grand Oaks.
The 6-foot-1 Coleman delivered power hit after power hit. Her force was irrepressible against Stratford’s back-pedaling defense.
Sophomore Halle Thompson had 16 kills, 12 digs and three aces. Her serving was exceptional, particularly late in the second set when she served eight consecutive points to break it open.
Grand Oaks was tough at the service line all tournament long, keeping opponents out of system and allowing the defense to make a better read on plays with efficient strong serve-receive.
“It helped us not letting them get on any runs,” Thompson said. “We were really good on side out to not let them get anything going and to get us a lot of points.”
Thompson led everyone in kills and hitting in the championship match. She was named the tournament’s outstanding hitter.
“This year, I’m smarter, more mature,” Thompson said. “Less scared. Being a freshman on varsity was intimidating but I feel like I’m getting used to it.”
Sophomore defensive specialist Cali Reece had eight digs. Senior right-side hitter Caelyn Emmerling showed off big swings with eight kills and was a presence on the block. Sophomore setter Samantha Sampson had 17 assists. Senior setter Audrey Terry had 14. Sophomore Julia Flessas had two aces. Senior Brookelynn Anderson had two blocks.
Seniors A’talia Thomas-Kelly and Jonaida Donowa filled in for Auguste and earned themselves more playing time in the future. They were formidable at the net and kept the Spartans from getting anything easy.
“We were missing a big part of our puzzle and they took that responsibility seriously,” Rogers said. “They were great offensively, defensively. I couldn’t be more impressed with them.”
Grand Oaks went 38-10 last year, a single-season program best in wins, and fell to Bridgeland, 3-2, in the area playoffs. Only five seniors graduated from that team.
“It’s the same look but they’ve just grown another year,” Rogers said of her girls. “They’re able to stay calm in the ups and downs of a match and work through tough times.”
It was a signature weekend for Rogers’ program.
Auguste is expected back soon after helping her country capture gold. The University of Florida commit had six kills and two blocks for eight points in the 3-2 gold medal match win over Turkey. And the Grizzlies are off to their best start since 2020, when they opened with eight wins in nine games.
“To have somebody overseas winning a gold medal for USA Volleyball and then to do what we did in a tournament that’s prestigiously very high, I’m very proud of these girls and this program,” Rogers said. “We’re ready to keep it rolling.”
