Check out the 2022 Fort Worth-area high school volleyball preseason rankings
Introducing the 2022 Fort Worth-area high school volleyball preseason rankings as the season tips off this week.
Check back for updated rankings all throughout the season (the next one will be after tournament play).
Class 6A
1. Keller (Last season 32-13, state runner-up): The Indians made history with their first trip to the UIL state tournament. They graduated all-area MVP Melanie McGann, but do return an experienced lineup led by setter Taylor Polivka (No. 7 ranked area player, Miami commit) and middle blocker Leah Ford (No. 9, USC). Flower Mound Marcus coach Danielle Barker (three-time state champ as a player) takes over for Lauren Rao, who went to TCU in the spring.
2. Mansfield (Last season 35-16, regional semifinals): The Tigers had their best playoff run since 1992 and were two wins away from a state appearance. Junior Rachel Resta is expected to lead the offense at setter (677 assists). The Tigers have won 29 straight district games and back-to-back undefeated District 11-6A titles. Can they make it three in a row and a return trip to the regional tourney?
3. Haslet Eaton (Last season 37-4, regional final): Assistant coach Leslie Berens was promoted to head coach following the departure of Diane Wilson in the spring. Wilson, the only head coach in program history, guided the Eagles to the regional final in back-to-back seasons. 10 players graduated from last year’s roster, but expect senior Emily Simmons (No. 16) to lead the offense (322 kills, 602 digs).
4. Southlake Carroll (Last season 26-17, regional quarterfinals): Jason Tanaka is the new head coach, taking over for Teresa Dunn, who won 111 games with the Dragons in four seasons. Four starters graduated, but keep an eye on Kaylee Young (USC) and Caleigh King.
5. Byron Nelson (Last season 19-20, missed the playoffs): A rare playoff miss for the Bobcats in 2021, but expect them to bounce back. Samantha Hoppes (No. 14, Boston College) leads the offense (505 kills) followed by setter Keatyn Rodgers (Hardin Simmons, 848 assists).
6. Boswell (Last season 28-14, bi-district): The Pioneers look to rebound from last season’s playoff loss. After winning an undefeated district title, expect the team to repeat as 3-6A champs. Madi Parrish (No. 19, Angelo State) and Stephanie Gutierrez (No. 18, Rice) make a great 1-2 punch on offense and defense.
7. Weatherford (Last season 22-20, bi-district): Karli Morrison comes from Lubbock-Cooper after Nicholas Gay went down the road to 3A Brock. Kate Hansen (Texas Tech, No. 4) and Riess Griffith (No. 24) will once again be a dynamic pair for the Kangaroos (nearly combined for 1,000 kills last season).
8. Arlington Martin (Last season 36-3, area round): The Warriors posted the best winning percentage among area teams and have only lost one district game in the last five seasons. Senior Kensie Mundell (343 digs) is among their leading returners.
9. Mansfield Legacy (Last season 23-17, area round): The Broncos move up to the largest classification, fresh off a district championship in Class 5A. Expect Brynn Dowd (No. 21) and Katie Brothers to lead Legacy to the playoffs in its first year at 6A.
10. Mansfield Lake Ridge (Last season 21-22, missed the playoffs): The Eagles look to return to the playoffs after last year’s finish. If that’s going to happen, it starts with senior Clair Redmon (343 kills) on the offensive attack.
Class 5A
1. Colleyville Heritage (Last season 40-11, regional semifinals): The Panthers were one of two area teams to win 40 games last season. Expect the same this year with four players in the Top 25, including No. 1 setter Morgan Howard (Louisiana-Monroe).
2. Midlothian (Last season 37-8, regional quarterfinals): Senior Kenna Buchanan (A&M Corpus Christi) enters the season as the preseason all-area MVP while Jenna McMichael (Dallas Baptist) is preseason all-area defensive MVP. Buchanan is No. 2 in the area Top 25.
3. Grapevine (Last season 22-18, state runner-up): The Mustangs have gone to state in back-to-back seasons. They graduated their top two hitters, but return a good amount of experience with Ava Shankle, Sydney Engel, Mikayla Ethridge and Greyson Button (Central Arkansas).
4. Aledo (Last season 26-15, bi-district): The Ladycats are coming off a district championship season and look to bounce back from last year’s early exit. Junior hitter Vivian Parker, the No. 11 ranked area player, was district utility MVP last season. Maddie Frank (No. 23) returns after leading the area in the regular season in hitting percentage.
5. Birdville (Last season 28-18, regional quarterfinals): Longtime Birdville coach Cynthia Rinehart announced her retirement and former Grapevine and Burleson Centennial coach Whitney Woody takes over. Maya Duckworth, one of the best players of all time, has graduated, but Caroline Kahle (No. 5) looks to build off last season’s career year. She was the only area player to have 500 kills and 700 digs, and was all-area utility MVP.
6. Justin Northwest (Last season 27-12, regional quarterfinals): The Texans graduated all-state hitter MaKenna Miller, who’s now in Austin. They’re coming off their best playoff run since 1998 and looking for more. At least 10 players return from last season’s roster, including middles Lydia Seymour (TCU) and Hannah Clear, and setters Sophie Chambers and Madison Scrivner.
7. Joshua (Last season 23-18, bi-district): Top hitter Rylie Rumfield graduated in the spring, but look for Peyton Cole and Brooke Mason to lead the way in 2022 along with Gabbie Maldonado and Skylar Hutto.
8. Burleson (Last season 25-22, area round): The Elks won a district title and playoff game for the fourth straight season under coach D’Anna Newton. If they want to make it five straight, it’ll start with multi-sport athletes Katie Wong (soccer), Kendall Carlock (soccer, basketball) and Emily Jacobs (softball).
9. Argyle (Last season 31-13, regional final): The Eagles are one of four area teams to jump up a class after spending many years in 4A. The Eagles were a win away from state last season and look to prove they can hang in 5A with new coach Katelyn Johnson. Look for Sydney Payne and Camryn Heiser to shine.
10. Midlothian Heritage (Last season 30-19, regional quarterfinals): The Jaguars joined Argyle in the move up to 5A during February’s realignment. In their short time, the Jags have won five straight playoff openers, gone to three regional finals and a trip to state in 2018. If they want to hang with 5A, it starts with hitters Grace Sweeney (No. 25, 555 kills) and Emilee Casey (332 kills).
Class 4A/Others
1. Decatur (Last season 37-8, state champ): Decatur is our new Fort Worth-area team this season and the Eagles have won back-to-back state titles and three in the last four years. They graduated a talented class and have big shoes to fill in order to get back to Garland. Morgan Hammer and Meredith Shults will highlight the defense.
2. Grandview (Last season 32-11, regional quarterfinals): The Zebras moved back to Region 3 in Class 3A and bring back key starters from a season ago. Kenzi Williamson led the state in aces and Shelby Martin is among the area’s leading hitters (563 kills). Olivia Bauerschlag is also back (249 kills, 326 digs).
3. Peaster (Last season 27-14, regional quarterfinals): Peaster has won 53 games overall and posts a 28-0 district record during the past two seasons. The Greyhounds have averaged 33 wins in the past eight seasons. Payton Hull, one of the area’s best athletes (golf, basketball) is back for her senior season along with Brooklyn Bosher, Landry Robertson and Averie Threet.
4. Argyle Liberty Christian (Last season 41-10, state semifinals): The Warriors were two wins from a championship, but still posted the most wins in the Fort Worth-area last season. Madison Morrow has graduated, but the team does return setter Reagan Fifer (Houston), who is the No. 13 ranked player in the area. She comes off a career year, which included 1,250 assists.
5. Boyd (Last season 25-4, regional final): The Yellowjackets were a win away from state, but continue to be a force in Class 3A. They haven’t dropped a district game in two years and have only lost once in four.
6. Glen Rose (Last season 24-15, area round): The Tigers haven’t missed the playoffs since 2009, which makes it 12 straight years. Don’t worry, Glen Rose will make it 13 straight this season.
7. Godley (Last season 32-10, area round): The Wildcats had the second most wins among area 4A schools, just behind Decatur. They enter 2022 predicted to win their district.
8. FW Lake Country (Last season 27-6-3, state quarterfinals): The Eagles just missed their chance for a return trip to state last season, but look to get back in 2022. They didn’t lose much, just three from last year’s roster. Star libero Brooke Phillips returns for her senior season.
9. Springtown (Last season 25-16, area round): The Porcupines enjoyed their most wins since 2016 and won a bi-district title for the second straight season. Top player Railey Druxman graduated, but Brinklee Dauenhauer (268 kills) and Stoli Cox (173 kills) return.
10. Brock (Last season 24-13, regional semifinals): The Eagles went to the regional tournament for the ninth time in the past 12 seasons. They look to make another deep playoff run with new coach Nicholas Gay, who went 168-53 in the last five years with Weatherford. Ellason Felts is the team’s leading returner.
