Seniors Mia Sauers (3.4 digs per set) and Daisy Mitchell (2.1 digs per set) are no strangers to floor burns. Mitchell also runs an efficient offense (5.2 assists per set).
Junior Melody Herrin could emerge as a force in the middle.
There is plenty of prowess in the cupboard for coach Scott Simonds despite graduating 10 seniors.
Stratford Sr. Setter Audrey Cook
Though they fell to nationally top-ranked Byron Nelson, the run redefined expectations for the Spartans—and Cook’s impact was undeniable.
“I think the whole experience was so surreal,” said Cook, now a senior. “Of course, it’s not something that many people expected us to do, even ourselves at some points.”
Stratford didn’t need outside validation. Internal belief and team-first culture became their fuel.
“We tend to be against the odds, and I feel like that was a big part of what motivated us,” Cook said. “The team was fired up every round because of the doubts we faced. More so than that, we felt like we were doing it for each other, since that’s the culture which has been built upon each season.”
The stars of 2025-26 Stratford VolleyballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
For Cook, the journey went beyond the scoreboard. It was the small, in-between moments that made the experience unforgettable.
“The trips we took are something that’s going to be ingrained in my memory forever,” she said with a laugh. “The stops at Buc-ee’s, making pallets on the bus when we were trying to sleep. It all sort of combines to make the journey that much more special.”
Cook was named Co-District 17-6A MVP in 2024, sharing the honor with Koss. But heading into her final season, the challenge looks different. Stratford is no longer the underdog—they’re the team to beat.
“For the first time in a while, the target is on us,” Cook acknowledged. “It’s pretty clear that we have to adapt, especially now that a newer group of girls is being brought up into the program. We compete in a super competitive region, so regrouping and understanding that this is a new season will be critical.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
With graduation on the horizon, Cook is embracing an introspective and emotional chapter.
“For me, it’s a really sad experience,” she said. “This has been like family and like home to me for so long. Coach Jenny (Adcock) has been like a mom to me—go to her any day, she’s there for you. That’s something I’m definitely going to cherish, and I’m sure that I’ll continue to stay in contact with her once I graduate.”
Still, her volleyball story is far from over. Cook has committed to Grand Canyon University, where she’ll play at the Division I level—fulfilling a longtime dream.
“I’m so blessed that I get to play beyond high school,” Cook said. “It relates to the welcoming environment I’ve grown used to feeling at Stratford. I’m going to be spending plenty of time with the coaches and players, so it was imperative that I felt something a little more profound when I went to the campus—which is exactly how it played out.”
From locker room laughs to state finals, Audrey Cook’s journey has been anything but ordinary. As she looks ahead, she’s sure to leave behind a footprint rooted in belief, tenacity, and the team that became her second home.
College Park Sr. Setter Caroline Prihoda
Now, entering her final year with the Cavaliers and committed to play for the University of Kentucky, Prihoda is focused on demonstrating that last season wasn’t a fluke.
“Because we’re in such a competitive district to begin with, I feel that the team is going to enter each match knowing that something is at stake,” Prihoda said. “After finishing third at State last year, we need to know that each point is going to be a battle and nothing will be given to us moving forward.”
The stars of 2025-26 College Park VolleyballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
That battle-tested mentality comes from experience. In 2024, Prihoda earned Co-Setter of the Year honors in District 13-6A and was named a GHCVA First-Team selection in Class6A.
Her consistency and court awareness were vital to College Park’s playoff push, which ended in a State Semifinal loss to eventual 6A-Division II champion Byron Nelson. Still, last year’s run wasn’t a one-player show.
Defensive anchor Morgan Madison—the district’s Defensive MVP and an All-Tournament pick at State—was widely regarded as the team’s backbone. With Madison now at Baylor University, Prihoda and her fellow veterans know it’s up to them to sustain the program’s momentum.
“The torch isn’t just going to be passed to me,” said Prihoda. “We have four seniors this year who are returning varsity players, and most of us have played together since we were in about second grade. It honestly comes down to all of us.”
That shared history, she believes, will be key—especially in a season where external uncertainties may start to surface.
“It’s going to be our responsibility to ensure that the chemistry remains strong, since we might face doubts, now that we have to compensate for Morgan’s absence,” she said. “As long as we can get that confidence back again, I’m sure we can make a similar run.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Confidence, for Prihoda, has never been an issue. In February, she announced her commitment to Kentucky, where she’ll soon join former Cinco Ranch star Kassie O’Brien and a respected SEC program. Her decision, she acknowledged, was about more than volleyball.
“When I went on my official visit, their coaching staff was easily the best I had come to know,” Prihoda explained. “Coach [Craig] Skinner emphasized that Kentucky doesn’t just recruit exceptional players—they intend to bring on exceptional individuals.
“That led me to meeting the team, and I just fell in love with them—the type of people they are, how they carry themselves, and the fact that they lead by example. The unity of it all really stood out to me.”
As her closing year begins, Prihoda isn’t just setting the ball—she’s setting the tone.
With a deep understanding of the game, a loyal core of teammates, and a drive to build on last year’s tremendous success, she enters her senior season not as a follower of history—but as a leader shaping it.
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