Introducing the 2022 Fort Worth Star-Telegram preseason all-area volleyball team
The 2022 Texas high school volleyball season is about to begin and look for the Fort Worth-area to shine again with some of the best players in the state.
The regular season officially kicks off on Monday Aug. 8 and tournament play starts Aug. 11.
Here is a look at the Star-Telegram preseason all-area awards and first-team selections.
Important dates
August 5: First day for scrimmages
August 8: First day for matches
October 31: Playoffs
Most Valuable Player
Kenna Buchanan, Senior, Midlothian
College: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi commit
Last season: 560 kills, 426 digs, 39 aces, 46 blocks, 0.377 hitting
About Buchanan: Buchanan, who was district MVP last season, is coming off a national championship this summer with Skyline (named tourney MVP). She was fourth in kills among the area in 2021 and was the only player in the area to record 500 kills, 400 digs and a 0.350 hitting percentage.
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Offensive Player of the Year
Ella Busey, Senior, Colleyville Heritage
College: Houston commit
Last season: 708 kills, 0.294 hitting, 5.1 kills per set
About Busey: The outside hitter finished with the second-most kills in the area and was voted district offensive MVP and all-area co-offensive MVP after helping the Panthers to 40 wins and a regional tournament appearance.
Setter of the Year
Morgan Howard, Senior, Colleyville Heritage
College: Louisiana-Monroe commit
Last season: 1,531 assists, 10.8 assists per set, 26 games with 30 assists, 12 games with 40
About Howard: Look for Howard to repeat as all-area setter of the year. Last season, she had the most assists in Texas and was one of three in the country to eclipse the 1,500-assist mark. Also won a national title with Skyline.
Defensive Player of the Year
Jenna McMichael, Senior, Midlothian
College: Dallas Baptist University commit
Last season: 854 digs, 6.6 digs per set
About McMichael: Voted district MVP after a district champion season and regional quarterfinal appearance. McMichael finished the season with the fourth-most digs in the area. Also won a national title with Skyline.
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Middle Blocker of the Year
Leah Ford, Senior, Keller
College: USC commit
Last season: 361 kills, 0.374 hitting, 102 blocks
About Ford: Ford helped the Indians make program history with a trip to the Class 6A state championship match. She set a career high in kills and hitting, and was voted to the all-tournament team.
Utility Player of the Year
Caroline Kahle, Senior, Birdville
College: Stephen F. Austin commit
Last season: 580 kills, 752 digs, 85 aces, 45 blocks, 32 double-doubles
About Kahle: The reigning all-area utility player of the year had a career season in 2021, leading the team in kills, digs and aces. Kahle was the only player in the country last season to amass 500 kills and 600 digs.
First Team
Outside Hitters
Kate Hansen, Senior, Weatherford: A two-time Co-Blocker of the Year in 3-6A and a former district MVP, this Texas Tech commit finished last season with 455 kills and 149 total blocks (program single season record).
Emily Simmons, Senior, Eaton: Simmons is expected to lead the attack for the Eagles after a large graduating class. She finished last season first-team all-district with 322 kills and over 600 digs.
Samantha Hoppes, Senior, Byron Nelson: The Boston College commit was one of six area players to finish the regular season with 500 kills, ending it with 505 to lead the Bobcats. She also hit 0.279 and had 70 blocks.
Middle Blockers
Reagan Engler, Senior, Colleyville Heritage: The Air Force commit was voted 6-5A Blocker of the Year. Engler finished the season with 391 kills, 0.365 hitting and 170 total blocks (second in the area).
Reese Robins, Senior, Mansfield Timberview: The Louisville commit was awarded district MVP last season after leading the area in kills (725) and blocks (177). She finished the regular season with the most kills in DFW and ranked seventh in blocks among the state.
Setters
Taylor Polivka, Senior, Keller: The Miami commit was 4-6A Setter of the Year after setting career highs in assists (1,424) and digs (289), helping the Indians to the Class 6A state final.
Keatyn Rodgers, Senior, Byron Nelson: Rodgers just committed to play volleyball at Hardin-Simmons and is among the Top 10 returners in assists from a season ago. She finished with 848 assists with 7.7 assists per set.
Defensive Specialists
Kea Whillock, Senior, Keller: The 4-6A Defensive MVP finished with over 600 digs for the state runner-up. She recorded 11 games with 20 digs, including season-high 36 against Byron Nelson in September.
Makenna Dillow, Senior, Azle: Dillow is the top area returner in digs after finishing the season with 904 digs with 23 digs per match and 7.5 digs per set. She hit double-digit digs in all but two games and had 15 games with 30 digs.
Utility
Vivian Parker, Junior, Aledo: The 6-5A Co-Utility MVP helped the Ladycats to a district title with a team-high 429 kills. She was second on the team with 489 digs and added 31 aces, 32 blocks and 22 double-doubles.