VYPE caught up with Montgomery High School Girls Basketball Coach Kelly Savoy at the Montgomery ISD Winter 2023 Media Day, discussing the upcoming season and more!
Check out the interview below!
The featured standouts of the 2026–27 Clear Springs Chargers volleyball team.
Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
Young should deliver similar production this fall—if not more—with fellow senior Madelyn “Mady” Powell back at setter. Just as comfortable on the court as she is in the sand, Powell earned first-team all-district acclaim after totaling over 750 assists and 350 digs.
She’ll be complemented by senior setter Karmen O’Quinn, while junior Olivia Barnett works opposite Young on the pin. Junior middle Gavin Cramer was named District Co-Newcomer of the Year a season ago after contributing roughly 110 blocks and 160 kills.
While Co-Defensive Player of the Year Lianna Kearns (now at Concordia University) has graduated, Alabama-bound junior Aubree Svoboda is expected to fill the void seamlessly after a first-team campaign featuring 320 digs and 624 serve receptions.
According to McClellen, Clear Springs is “a group that understands the game as well as each other. Now, it’s about tightening up the details and making sure the experience shows up every day.”
The district may have shifted to 18-6A in UIL realignment, but the slate remains unchanged. So, will this be the fall the Chargers reset the standard?
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Clear Springs' Caylee Young (Sr. OH)Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
Klein Oak Sr. OH Camille Csernik (Miami commit)
Doug Brown (VYPE)
Now a senior, the Miami-bound outside hitter delivered a masterful performance. She was named the District 15-6A Hitter of the Year after surpassing 600 kills, adding nearly 300 digs and 650 serve receptions in an effort that reflected her expertise on both ends of the floor.
Her journey to this point, however, began on an entirely different stage
“I actually started as a competitive dancer at a young age and spent about eight years doing that before moving to Texas,” she said. “So, I didn’t really get into volleyball until I was 12—almost 13. I started out as a middle before eventually making the switch to the outside.”
Doug Brown (VYPE)
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That late transition has shaped the way she sees the game now—less as a one-dimensional attacker and more as a deliberate, creative presence on the pin.
“One of the strengths of my game is my range when it comes to hitting the ball,” she said. “At this stage of my career, I’m able to execute a variety of shots. I can read the situation to know where I need to place it and how much power to use.”
Beyond the court, Csernik’s downtime is simple but intentional.
“Movies are definitely my go-to form of entertainment,” she said. “I love discovering new movies and shows, and I usually do that with my sister. If I had to narrow it down to just three favorites, I’d go with The Notebook, The Godfather Part II, and Interstellar.”
The decision to continue her career at Miami came down to connection and culture as much as the level of play.
“The competitive nature surrounding the team stood out to me, along with the coaching,” she said. “I’ve built a really strong relationship with Coach Keno (HC Jose ‘Keno’ Gandara), and I felt welcomed during my visit—like I was already part of the family. The team had that same energy, and I could tell they were tight-knit, so it felt like home.”
But, back to Klein Oak.
“Our main goal starts with battling for a district championship,” she said. “We came close last year, so we’re definitely aiming to finish first this time around. From there, it’s about taking full advantage of our opportunity in the playoffs and seeing how far we can go.”
The Panthers are in the midst of realizing their potential, powered by an aspiring professional who didn’t take the typical route—but is now setting the standard.
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Tomball Sr. Libero/DS Gemma Hopkins
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The genes are rich in the Hopkins’ household… a big smile, wild hair and a go-get 'em flare for their respective sports.
“Lily really got us going,” Gemma Hopkins said. “She was the trailblazer. She showed us that competing, sticking to the routines and trusting the process, that we could live out our dreams too.”
Iron sharpens iron with these siblings.
“We really push each other and compete with each other,” she laughed. “You’ve got to see us play board games as a family. It’s brutal. We really love to hang out together. Everyone is fun and chill one moment, and the next we are going at it.”
Hopkins is the quarterback of the Tomball Cougars. As the libero, everything works off of her energy.
“I’m all over the place,” she said. “My job is to keep the ball off the court, whatever it takes.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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She’s pretty elite at that, helping the Cougars advance to the State Tournament last year with a relatively young squad.
“We want to win State… that’s it,” she said. “We have a great, young setter and some great hitters… and me. We have the pieces to do it this year.
“We have another year of experience and know what State looks like. We have even more chemistry than a year ago.”
Time waits for no one, and before long the all-state setter will be off to college at the University of Arkansas with her recognizable curls and break-neck playing style.
“I was about the people at Arkansas,” she said. “They are really investing in me and they know how seriously I take volleyball. I love the type of player they recruit… I can see them as my best friends.”
There isn’t much Gemma Hopkins can’t do?
“I love to sing and have really gotten into knitting,” she laughed. “I do theatre and love to perform in musicals. I’ve started knitting blankets but I’m challenging myself to do more complicated things. I need to up my game with my knitting.”
The self-improvement never ends.
Did we fail to mention that there is another Hopkins entering the chat? Ace Hopkins is going to be a freshman at Tomball this year.
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