VBhubby Posted August 9, 2009 Report Posted August 9, 2009 Volleyball preview: FB Travis on rise in Class 5A Few details emerge in Morton Ranch coaches investigation Lamar Consolidated eyes fifth straight 23-4A title Jones football team looks to stay perfect in 22-4A High School Notebook: Cooper lends a hand Humble product Lyons survives wreck on way to practice Volleyball: Injury bug stinging Lions early SEARCH RESULTS Volleyball Playoff Preview: Clear Creek hoping for more Houston area girls all-district basketball teams High school roundup: The Woodlands ready to repeat Volleyball: Injury bug stinging Lions early Volleyball: Travis to open without Maas Nike Classic in Pearland nets volleyball’s best Volleyball: Clear Brook has veteran leadership Chronicle's top softball players shine in playoffs Game of the Week: Bobcats open at full speed The Woodlands sweeps rival College Park in v'ball High School Sports Houston Chronicle members Not Logged In Login / Sign-up High School Sports NOW 92 o NEWSSPORTS BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIFE TRAVEL BLOGSJOBSHOMES CARS BUY & SELL Mobile | SMS Comments Recommend Volleyball preview: FB Travis on rise in Class 5A By JENNY DIAL Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle Aug. 8, 2009, 11:45PM Michael Paulsen Chronicle Thanks to seniors, from left, Ashley Bannister (24), Taylor Szypulski (3), Sammy Jones (9) and Megan McStravick (34), Travis volleyball has advanced from a first-year program to a state tournament contender. Share Print Share Del.icio.usDiggTwitterYahoo! BuzzFacebookStumbleUponKey Issues: Who will make it to state in 5A this year? The area is always competitive, but in Region III, it’s hard to look past FB Travis. The Tigers have been a force since they burst on the scene in 2007. In three years, the Tigers have gone from new school to regional finalists. Cypress Woods, Cy-Fair, College Park, The Woodlands and Klein Oak all have the look of state contenders in Region II. Can an area team win the state title this season? Every year this is a question. And since the 2000-2001 year when Cy Falls won the title, the answer has been no. Amarillo has dominated 5A the last three years and looks to be a favorite again. Friendswood made a nice run to state two years in a row in 4A and could be a team to watch. This is a really competitive area, so teams here do have a chance. Who could be some of the surprise teams? Dulles has been off the radar for a couple of seasons, but the Vikings could jump back in this year. They are small but play good defense. Clear Brook has a young squad that turned some heads last year, and everyone is back. Atascocita, which made the second round of the playoffs last year, is another team to keep an eye on. What are some of the top non-district games? Fans looking for key matchups early need look no further than the first day of the season. On Aug. 11, FB Travis plays host to Cy Woods at 6 p.m.; Cy-Fair entertains Cinco Ranch at 6:30 p.m.; Klein travels to Clear Creek at 6 p.m.; and Pearland goes to Stratford at 6:30 p.m. These games should give everyone an idea of what the season will hold. Will the Pearland tournament have the same teams as the last few years? The Pearland Tournament is a place to see some of the top matches in the state. Every year, the tournament gives fans a sneak preview of the state tournament. Amarillo attends, as does San Antonio Reagan and Lake Highlands. This year’s tourney takes place Aug. 27-29 at several Pearland ISD schools. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preseason all-greater Houston Ashley Bannister || SR. || FB travis || MB/OH Notable: Bannister has turned heads the last three seasons as she helped a young Tiger team grow and was a key part of Travis’ run to the regional final last season. Desiree Elliott || SR. || Cypress Woods || mb/oh Notable: With her length and power at the net, Elliott has helped Cy Woods quickly become one of the top volleyball programs in the area. Lexi Erwin || SR. || College Park || oh Notable: Erwin burst on the scene last season and will once again be an important part of College Park’s success in District 14-5A. Katie Messing || JR. || The Woodlands || mb Notable: At 6-4, Messing towers over most opponents but it isn’t just her size that makes her dangerous. Messing is a smart, fierce competitor and always seems to know the next move before anyone on the court. Chiney Ogwumike || SR. || Cy-Fair || mb Notable: It would be hard to find a more seasoned veteran than Ogwumike, who went to state with Cy-Fair as a sophomore. A four-year starter, Ogwumike stands at 6-3 and has tremendous strength as a hitter and blocker. Malorie Pardo || JR. || Pearland || setter Notable: Pearland has two of the top setters in the area, including Pardo, a junior who is also a threat as an outside hitter. Bethany Yaeger || SR. || Brenham || libero Notable: Yaeger has been a staple on the Cubbette volleyball squad for several years, and it is no wonder why. Her defense keeps Brenham at the top of the rankings. Second team S Amy Bremer SR. Elkins OH Scout Brooks JR. Brenham MB Madeleine Gaffney SR. Clear Creek OH Hayley Koop JR. Klein OH Megan McStravick SR. FB Baptist L Sindhu Vegesena JR. Klein Oak MB Taylor Szypulski SR. FB Baptist Third team S Marissa Collins SR. Pearland MB Alicia Dittrich JR. Clear Brook MB Danielle Espejo SR. Kingwood L Natalie Piznar JR. Clear Creek OH Katzy Randall JR. Magnolia OH Megan Schwartz SR. Klein Oak MB Courtney Windham SR. Cy Creek -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preseason rankings: 5A 1. Fort Bend Travis 2. Clear Creek 3. The Woodlands 4. Cypress Woods 5. Cy-Fair 6. College Park 7. Stratford 8. Cinco Ranch 9. Pearland 10. Clear Lake 4A/Others 1. Brenham 2. Magnolia 3. Wallis Brazos 4. Bellville 5. Friendswood 6. Kingwood Park 7. Columbus 8. St. Agnes 9. Montgomery 10. Dawson
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