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Macy Granville, Ashley Anderson, Ava Kwan, Sarah Webber, Jackie Jessup, Bailey Hanner, Caitlyn Harraman, Brooke Byers, Parker Smith, Zoe Gorringe and Shea Stone
FBCA Magazine Feature: The Architect, Alex Edwards takes over FBCA Volleyball
AFTER A FEW YEARS OF TURNOVER INSIDE THE VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM, FORT BEND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY HAS FOUND THEIR PROGRAM BUILDER.
Enter Alex Edwards, who played her high school ball at Katy Taylor before taking her game to Oklahoma and then to the University of Houston. The 28-year-old has been an assistant coach at Houston Christian and Episcopal – which won the SPC Championship this past year - as well as coaching the 14's and 18's for the Houston Skyline club.
This is her first head coaching job and she brings a winning vibe.
"We want to build a brand," Edwards said. "A program that's known for success, like St. Agnes or Concordia Lutheran right now. We want to be the powerhouse in this area because there are so many great players to draw from in the Fort Bend, Sugar Land, Katy and Fulshear area. "Right now, we are an underdog program and that's right up my alley. We are going to compete with the top teams locally and across the state, immediately."
While an assistant at Episcopal, Edwards played a large role in developing elite talent while learning from one of the best in the business – coach Amanda Watts. "I know I can coach. I know I can motivate kids from what I learned at Episcopal," she said.
"Coach Watts defined her program and set the expectations. Yes, we had great players but you have to get them to buy in, keep them motivated and keep their eye on the prize. I was blessed to learn from such a great leader and coach some of the best kids in the state."
Edwards still plays sand volleyball and is an avid hunter and fisher. She will be defensive-oriented on the floor and is a big "math person". She believes in velocity and angles and hard work.
"You can't coach everyone the same," Edwards said. "Some girls can take getting in their face, others cannot. Some need a cheerleader to get the best out of them. I like to figure out each of my players and build that one-on-one relationship."
Coaching girls, Edwards is a big believer in communication. "I'm a communicator," she said. "I want to be a mentor to my players. I want to teach them life lessons that they will use forever. Everyone is coming in with a fresh slate. I will also work with the middle-school girls so they can get to know me early. "It's all right here at my hands. I can't wait to get in there and mold this program into my vision."
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The Woodlands, Klein, Cedar Park power through to Regional Quarterfinals
The strength of District 13-6A volleyball showed through this past Monday and Tuesday as the four 13-6A qualifiers (Westwood, Vandegrift, Vista Ridge and Round Rock) all won their bi-district matchups.
However, the strength of Houston-area District 15-6A shined through Thursday night as second-ranked The Woodlands swept Vista Ridge in three sets while 14th-ranked Klein upended Round Rock in four sets.
Teri Wade's Highlanders weren't challenged much by an up-and-coming Vista Ridge team coached by Holly Lamb. The Woodlands (46-4 overall) swept Vista Ridge (26-20) in straight sets (25-12, 25-18, 25-12) at Brenham High School.
"We always get everyone's best (game), but I'm proud of the girls in staying consistent tonight," stated Wade, who's in her fifth year at the school; she's taken the Highlanders to the Regional Tournament four straight years. "Vista Ridge put up a good fight tonight; they are coached very well and they played well together."
Senior Dylan Maberry slammed a match-high 14 kills and added four total blocks and 15 digs.. Fellow senior Amanda Ifeanyi was all over the court, tallying 11 kills, serving up one ace, making two digs and making one total block.
Junior setter Clara Brower dished out 33 assists, made 10 digs and punched through four kills while senior libero Allie Griffith dug out 10 balls.
The Rangers lose four seniors – Ashley Anderson, Izzy Burratto, Ryanne Johnson and Molly Mastronardt – but will return nine juniors, one sophomore and one freshman to a deep squad next season.
"I'm extremely proud of my team this season," Lamb said afterwards. "We showed tremendous growth throughout the year. The Woodlands is a very good team but I thought our girls fought hard.
The Rangers did have eight players with at least one kill, led by junior Ava Dahl with four and Katelyn Kreinke with three.
"I'm proud of our seniors. Their sophomore year, our program won just six matches. Last year we finished second in district and this year, we made it to the area round. Their work ethic has laid a great foundation for this program moving forward."
Meantime the Round Rock Dragons rallied from a two-game deficit against Klein and broke through for a 25-20 win in Game 3. The Dragons then took a 13-9 lead in Game 4 before a 5-1 scoring run got Klein to within one, 15-14. Later, with the game tied at 18-18, Kate Zora's Bearkats ran off a 3-0 run, leading 21-18. They were able to match Round Rock point-for-point in closing out the match, 25-21.
"This is the largest group of seniors (13) in Round Rock history," Watson declared. "They are one of the hardest-working, supportive group of seniors with which I've had the pleasure of working.
"Their presence will be missed by the coaching staff, as well as their peers."
Senior Lauren Malone finished her illustrious 3-year varsity career at Round Rock with 12 kills. Fellow senior Sarah Keilen added 17 assists, three kills and two aces. Senior Joley Plummer chipped in with two kills and two aces.
The Bearkats used seven aces and six team blocks to power past Round Rock.
Kierstyn McFall made two blocks, had an ace and six digs while dunking 11 kills past the Dragons. Other Klein contributors included Annie Antar (match-high 15 kills, 22 assists, seven digs, one block and one ace); Devan Taylor (match-high 25 digs, 12 kills, one ace and one block) Ariana Brown (six kills, four digs, two aces and one block), Mikayla Simpson (seven kills) and Camy King (23 assists and 10 digs).
Elsewhere Thursday, Cedar Park (24-21) continued its emerging season under first-year coach Lori McLaughlin as the Timberwolves smoked highly-favored Grand Oaks of Houston (37-11) in three sets, 25-20, 27-25 and 25-20.
CPHS Senior Jaelyn Grimm and juniors Avery Cole and Abbi Lemmond each had seven kills, while sophomore Kate Alex slammed six. Cole added four aces and four total blocks and senior Olivia Meyer dished out 31 assists for Cedar Park, who awaits the winner of Friday's College Station/Georgetown East View match for next week's Region III quarterfinals.