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College Park's Smith gives blueprint for incoming college athletes

Matt Malatesta
Jun 18, 2019

Kennedi Smith starred at College Park and now plays for the University of New Hampshire

Student Center

Kennedi Smith came out of College Park High School as the District 16-6A MVP and a VYPE Fab 50 selection in 2016. With her accolades, surely all big-time school would have picked her up, right?

At 5-foot-8, the high majors took a pass due to her height. Her path took her to the northeast, where she landed in New Hampshire.

We caught up with the two-time American East All-Conference first-teamer while home for the summer. She gave the road map for future college volleyball players headed off to play college ball.


Playing Division I volleyball is a dream for most people. At least that is what I dreamed about. The recruiting process was not easy for me because I was constantly getting rejected from the big schools I had dreamed playing for.

Being 5-foot-8 is not your ideal outside-hitter. After some convincing, my club coach helped me realize that it is okay not going to a big DI school. So, I started looking at and visiting smaller DI schools, which brought me to the University of New Hampshire.

The first year of college was probably the biggest challenge for me because I was 1,900 miles away from my friends and family. I didn't have time to be homesick at first, because I was busy constantly training and practicing getting ready for the season.

When I had the downtime and was able to relax, that is when I started thinking about how far I was. I had seven other girls from across the country who came in with me. We were all going through the same thing and were able to help each other out.

How about this for a perk? It doesn't get that cold in Houston. It's cold in the northeast. Like, freezing. I had to get an entire new wardrobe.

Time management was a little tricky in the beginning, because I didn't know what to expect when balancing out playing volleyball and going to class. The nice thing about it was that we got our practice schedule and then we set up our classes around practice. That way we know when we have time to get stuff done either before or after practice.

Traveling for games was great. It would give us plenty of time to get homework done, and you really bond with your teammates off the court.

With that being said, playing college volleyball is definitely an experience and something I will never forget.

You have to stay focused and keep working hard no matter what. You're going to have your ups and downs, but remember how hard you've work to get to where you've gotten.

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No. 11 Huffman continues historic season reaching UIL State Tournament for the first time

Joshua Koch
06 Mar, 2021

HOUSTON - Huffman is heading to the UIL State Tournament.

It is not a dream, it is surely not a typo, it is really happening for the No. 11 Falcons following a 62-56 victory over Silsbee in the Region III-4A Championship on Friday night in La Porte.

"From never making it past the third round and now heading to the 6th and state semi-final is awesome, it is surreal," Huffman senior point guard Jacob Harvey said.

Junior power forward Grey Soileau added: "It's crazy-making history especially when our program never went past the regional quarterfinals. We have been playing together for so long and we knew we had the ability to be great! Now we just have to focus on winning the next game and getting closer to that ring!"

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No. 12 Atascocita downs No. 14 Summer Creek 52-51 to punch ticket to State Tournament in Instant Thriller

Joshua Koch
06 Mar, 2021
VYPE Preseason Rankings #3: Atascocita Eagles

HOUSTON - All David Martinez knew is that his team needed to get a stop.

Atascocita leading 52-51, following a circus-level acrobatic shot from senior Tom Hart III to put them up by one with 4.2 seconds remaining in Friday's Region III-6A Championship, Martinez knew rival-Summer Creek would try and go at the basket one more time.

And they did.

With time running off the clock, the Bulldogs fired one last shot attempt, which in live-action looked for a second like it may have beat the buzzer, which sent the Summer Creek fans and team into a frenzy. But instantly, the referee ran to center court waving his arms saying the shot did not count.

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VYPE 2021 Softball Preview:​ Public School #14 The Woodlands

Joshua Koch
05 Mar, 2021

The Woodlands always has the talent, but can this be the year they break through and get back to the Regional Finals for the first time since 2017? The Woodlands hasn't been to state since 2015 and last won a crown in 2011. The 2021 version of the Highlanders possesses plenty of offense.

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