By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Houston head coach Julia Sloan enters her second year at the helm of Houston volleyball; in her first, the Lady Tigers won 26 games and a district championship. They will regroup without two-time all-stater Angie Smith, but returning contributors will prime the Lady Tigers for another successful season.
Junior setter and OH Kayla Wagner earned first team all-district and SCA honorable mention honors last season with 446 assists, 121 kills, and 206 digs. “I am expecting big things out of her this season,” said Sloan. “She had a great offseason and summer in the weight room. She works hard and never takes a day off. I am expecting her to take on a big leadership role this year.”
Senior setter and OH Morgan McKinney earned second team all-district honors last year and with 452 assists, 31 aces, and 192 digs. “Morgan had a great summer in the weight room and loves the sport,” said Coach Sloan.
Makinley Aaron is a senior libero and a three-sport athlete with “great drive and ambition,” per her coach. She was a first team all-district and SCA honorable mention award earner last season and had 396 digs.
Senior DS Cadence Wade added 140 digs last year. “Candace is a really hard worker,” said Sloan. “I’m excited to see how much she grows in her role this year.”
Junior Kynlee Weaver (MH) had 108 kills and 27 blocks in her sophomore season. “Kynlee is strong and explosive,” said Sloan. “I am expecting her to be a more vocal leader this year and grow more into her role.”
Newcomers for Houston include Summer Seago, sophomore MH. “I’m looking forward to her new role this season,” said Coach Sloan. “She can jump out of the gym.”
Junior Annabelle Westbrook will play right side and is “very vocal and a great teammate” per her coach. Classmate Hannah Ennis, RS, “has a great swing and is a great team player,” said Sloan.
Junior Gracyn McNiell, defensive specialist, will play back row for the Lady Tigers. “She has grown so much from last year to this year. She has a whole new confidence in herself and has already done a great job for us this summer. I can’t wait to see how much more she grows this season.”
“Elysia Graciano (senior DS) is one of our top female lifters in the weight room. She is such a hard worker,” said Coach Sloan.
Senior Nola Smith, defensive specialist, will work to maximize abilities to impact the team.
“I expect us to show up and compete each game,” said Sloan. “We have talked a lot this summer about outworking teams; even if they are better than us, we can still outwork people. With the graduation of four seniors, we have lots of new and young girls filling new roles, and we will need to mature quickly. I am hoping my returners that were part of our district championship last year will lead with their experience.”
The Lady Tigers will host a jamboree on August 29, with Willow Springs and Cabool joining in. Their first home game is against Seymour on September 5.
