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.
Grand Oaks Sr. OH Halle Thompson
The 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter, already a two-time 6A State MVP, is poised to guide the Grizzlies towards a historic mark. With another title run, Grand Oaks would join Hebron (2015–17) as the only 6A program to win three consecutive state championships.
It’s a daunting challenge — but not one that fazes Thompson.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“I think we’ll respond the way we always have,” Thompson said. “We’re going to stay on track and do what we do best, which is to prove people wrong.”
There’s a quiet fire to her voice — not born out of arrogance, but the hardened humility of a leader who has risen through consistency and conviction.
“We’re aware that it’s going to be a difficult task to accomplish, because of how rare of an achievement it is just to do it once,” she added. “That won’t hold us back, though. It will be used as motivation. Above all else, this team isn’t defined by the trophies we already have. It’s defined by the ones we intend to get.”
The 2024 Championship team is presented with their brand new State rings (6/20/2025)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Since her freshman year, Thompson has been the cornerstone of Grand Oaks’ rise, embodying a certain athleticism that few at the high school level can replicate.
This season, however, presents a new wrinkle: the Grizzlies are without longtime offensive counterpart Samara Coleman — now at TCU — who was equally instrumental in their title runs.
Now, the future Wisconsin Badger steps fully into the spotlight. But her team-first attitude remains unwavering.
“My mentality is the fact that I wouldn’t be in the position I am without my liberos, my setters, Samara, the team as a whole,” said Thompson. “I know some people think about themselves at this stage, but in this position you can’t.”
It’s a grounded approach that continues to earn her respect. She accepts the leadership role but refuses to separate her success from the group’s.
“Everyone is ready to put their ‘big girl pants’ on to do what is necessary,” she said with a smile.
The stars of 2025-26 Grand Oaks VolleyballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Beyond her high school accolades, Thompson’s talent has gained national attention. For the second straight year, she’s been selected for the USA Volleyball U19 national team. After strong showings at the National Team Development Program (NTDP) camps, she earned a spot on the travel roster for this summer’s U21 World Championship in Indonesia.
“It’s been such a fun experience so far,” Thompson said. “It’s definitely made me a more well-rounded player since I get to compete with and against the nation’s best.”
She laughs off Olympic comparisons — “that’s the elite of the elite” — but sees the U19 team as a key step toward her long-term goals. Even with the accolades, Thompson points to a less glamorous influence on her growth: failure.
“You don’t learn anything by winning all the time,” she said. “I know it might not seem that way, especially when you play for a team like Grand Oaks. But that’s because I’ve messed up a lot. However, I don’t let that define me. I grow from the experience as everyone should try to do.”
As Grand Oaks chases a place in the record books, they do so with a clear advantage: a leader built not just by victories, but by everything in between.
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