Not even a week into the high school volleyball season, Bianna Muoneke continues to etch her name into Cypress Ranch volleyball history.
After setting program records for kills in a game, aces in a season and season hitting percentage last year, the senior outside hitter and Texas A&M commit now holds the Mustangs’ record for career kills with 1,146 and counting as of Monday, Aug. 15.
“It was definitely a goal of mine,” said Muoneke, who entered this season with 1,000 kills in two seasons of varsity play. “Ever since I got to watch the varsity girls play and all the records that were up, my goal was that has to be me. I started working towards it.”
Muoneke surpassed Shelby Fanning’s career kills mark of 1,045 set in 2014.
“I feel it’s a real turning point in my Cy Ranch career,” Muoneke said. “My last year, breaking records. It felt really good to do.”
So far this season, through nine games for 8-1 Cy Ranch, Muoneke is averaging 6.6 kills per set on a .397 hitting percentage and .483 kill percentage. Muoneke said she has matured as a hitter and feels “better and stronger,” attacking the ball with more aggression.
“Last year, I felt like I was a great hitter, but now I feel I’ve really elevated my game to the next level,” she said. “A big part of that is holding myself to a higher standard. If I hit a .300 (percentage) in a game, in the back of my mind I’m feeling I could’ve hit a .500. That’s been a huge part of my game.”
Muoneke said she feels a responsibility to be great for her teammates. She said the Mustangs’ team chemistry this season is the best she’s had in her volleyball career.
“School ball is a place where I get to be myself and play with my friends,” Muoneke said. “It’s high school. There’s no pressure. I’m just going out there and playing for my team and playing for my city.”
And more records.
Assuming health and a long season, Muoneke will break the career ace record (she sits at 102; the record is 130) and season kill record (she missed it by seven kills last year despite missing a tournament because of a visit to A&M) this year. That would give her all the hitting records at Cy Ranch.
It would also award vindication. More substantial reward after finishing her last club season No. 1 in kills in Houston Juniors Volleyball history and No. 2 in hitting percentage (behind USC’s Skylar Fields).
“For the longest time, I measured my self-worth by rankings and lists,” Muoneke said. “I realized those rankings and lists don’t matter. There are players whose numbers I’ve completely obliterated in club and high school who still made those lists. So, my standard is these career marks. Being No. 1 in kills in HJV history. The records at Cy Ranch. Those are the lists for me.
“What I’m doing at Cy Ranch and HJV, I’m making history. Lists are temporary but legacy lasts forever.”