Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
You've already seen the VYPE Austin preseason private school volleyball rankings, so it's time to learn about the sleepers. Check out the team breakdowns below, and look for more preseason coverage in the coming days!
No. 6 Austin St. Dominic Savio Catholic Eagles (Reached 2018 TAPPS 6A area round)
Austin St. Dominic Savio Catholic advanced to the TAPPS 6A area round last season, and still has an experienced group of players to go a couple rounds deep in 2019. That's because the Eagles have returning first-team all-district Sophia Miksch, who's back for her junior year. Joining her is second-team senior Emily Larmeu and honorable mention junior Georgia Brown.
No. 7 Fredericksburg Heritage School Eagles (Reached 2018 TAPPS 1A area round)
Fredericksburg Heritage School kept most of its talent from last year's run to the TAPPS 1A area round, so it'll be a force again in 2019. Celia Ashley will lead the Eagles' charge because she is back for her senior year and earned a first-team all-district honor in 2018. Depth will come from second-teamers Hannah Bray, Faith Lindner and Cora Elliot, as well as honorable mentions Alivia Jons and Olivia Loggie. Bray is another 2020 prospect, Lindner, Jons and Loggie are Class of 2021 members, and Elliot is back for her sophomore campaign.
No. 8 Austin St. Andrew's Episcopal School Highlanders (Reached 2018 SPC Quarterfinal and Won Fifth-Place Game)
Austin St. Andrew's Episcopal School advanced to last year's SPC quarterfinal and won the tournament's fifth-place game, and has the ability to top that in 2019. It starts with the Highlanders' six returning starters. Outside hitter Kyla Thompson and setter/opposite hitter Lauren Lietzke will lead the charge because they earned first-team all-SPC honors last season, but don't forget about the efforts of opposite hitter/setter Mia Arriaga. Coach Zack Kweder also plans to put his team in a winning position by increasing passing and serving efficiency.
No. 9 Austin Veritas Academy Defenders (Reached 2018 TAPPS 4A area round)
Austin Veritas Academy reached last year's TAPPS 4A area round, and still has an upside in 2019. The Defenders will lean on an experienced and talented big three. Raelyn Thompson is an important player because she is back for her senior season and received a second-team all-district honor in 2018. The other two are district honorable mentions Ellen Miller and Lisa Kenyon, who return as a senior and junior respectively.
No. 10 San Marcos Hill Country Christian School Rams (Reached 2018 TAPPS 1A regional final)
San Marcos Hill Country Christian School advanced to last year's TAPPS 1A regional final, but has to find replacements for the strong senior class that has since graduated. The services of all-staters Abigail Williamson and Demaris Darnell and first-team all-district honorees Shelby Glosson and Grace Stewart will be missed, but the team is fortunate to still have first-team all-district senior Mia Luna and second-team junior Camille Davis. Their experience from the playoff run will keep the team on track in 2019.
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