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THE PINNACLE: 2025 UIL Volleyball State Finals Preview -- Dawson vs. Byron Nelson (6A-D1)
WHERE: Curtis Culwell Center -- Garland, TX
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE UIL VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS/RESULTS
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The Dawson Eagles moments after their 3-0 victory over Seven Lakes in the Region III Final (11/11/2025)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Not much more can be said about Dawson and the unprecedented trail blazed by coach Lauren Leth’s squad. In their first appearance on the UIL Final Four stage last Saturday, the Eagles left everything on the floor at HISD’s Delmar Fieldhouse, battling point for point before ultimately outlasting San Antonio powerhouse O’Connor in a five-set masterpiece.
Improving to 42–4 on the year, Dawson has already etched its name into the history books by reaching the State Final. But the job isn’t finished yet.
The Eagles have been emboldened by several factors throughout the fall, none more prominent than their rallying anthem, “#WaitForIt.” Borrowed from the song of the same name in the musical Hamilton, the phrase has served as a unifying mantra dating back to the early days of training, according to senior libero Jenna Thedford.
Speaking of Thedford, on a roster brimming with alphas, she continues to stand out as the team’s catalyst, motivator, and on-court extension of the coach. The Texas A&M-signee is on pace to eclipse 700 digs this season, though she has already cemented her status as a Dawson legend.
Meanwhile, senior pin hitter Avery Koonsen (SFA-signee) has kept her foot on the gas, providing an extra spark for the Eagles with 529 kills and 328 digs. The attack is further bolstered by seniors MH Keaton Points (San Francisco) and OH Sloane Ranney (Grand Canyon University), who have combined for nearly 500 additional kills.
At the helm of the offense is Sloane’s sister, Taylor Ranney, also GCU-bound, delivering 750 assists from the setter spot, alongside freshman phenom Alexa Koonsen, who has added 460 assists of her own.
Gold is the goal — but Dawson’s toughest challenge yet still looms.
The Byron Nelson Bobcats following their 2024 UIL 6A-D2 State Championship acquisition at the Culwell Center (11/23/2024)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Byron Nelson (41–0), the No. 1-ranked team in Texas (MaxPreps) — and in the nation — has certainly lived up to the distinction. That comes as little surprise, considering the Trophy Club tyrants retained the entirety of last year’s 6A-D2 State Championship roster. Following their sweep of Cypress Ranch last weekend, the Bobcats advance to the Final riding an astonishing 77-game winning streak that stretches back to August 2024.
Head coach Brianne Groth’s all-star cast features not one, but two punishing forces on the pins in seniors Ashlyn “AJ” Seay (Rice signee) and Kylie Kleckner (Washington). The momentum this dynamic duo generates has proven virtually unstoppable, with both Seay and Kleckner amassing over 500 kills and 350 digs apiece this fall.
Orchestrating the attack is junior Sophee Peterson, a Texas A&M commit, who has excelled from the setter position with a staggering 1,459 assists. Add junior DS Savannah Sterna, who leads the team with 409 digs, and you have one of the most well-rounded units in the state.
Byron Nelson now sits just three set victories away from capturing the program’s third UIL title.
This matchup promises a true Clash of the Titans, as Dawson, with its grit and resilience, takes on the defending champions Byron Nelson, whose dominance and depth have defined 6A-D1 volleyball this season. Saturday’s showdown at the Culwell Center is set to be a battle worthy of the stakes and the hype, with history and glory hanging in the balance.
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CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE UIL VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS/RESULTS
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Friendswood's Nadi'ya Shelby (Florida-signee)
THE PLAYMAKERS: Southside VB's Aura Farmers // Powered by UTMB Health
Here are the UTMB Volleyball Athletes of 2025, highlighting some of South Houston's most prominent performers of the Fall.
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Caylee Young -- Clear Springs Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Clear Springs was one of the hottest teams in H-Town this season, and a clear reason for that surge stemmed from the play of Caylee Young. The junior pin hitter’s blend of precision and power consistently elevated the Chargers’ ceiling, giving them a dependable offensive catalyst in every matchup.
CSHS ultimately ran into Dawson in the Area Round — a squad now bound for the UIL 6A-DI State Final — which brought an end to an otherwise impressive campaign. Still, head coach Shannon McClellan’s group closed the year at 35-11, securing a fourth consecutive district championship in the process.
Individually, Young delivered one of the region’s top two-way seasons, finishing with 518 kills, 383 digs, and 728 serve receptions – a superb stat-line that ultimately earned the Texas Tech-commit District 24-6A MVP honors.
With the exception of imminent senior graduates like Lianna Kearns (24-6A Co-Defensive Player of the Year), the vast majority of standouts for Clear Springs are presumed to return next fall. With Young back as the centerpiece, this team is only just getting started.
Avery Koonsen -- Dawson Volleyball
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Dawson was already a perennial regional contender prior to the arrival of senior Avery Koonsen. When factoring in her addition from the outside pin, it makes total sense as to how the program has stood on business and ascended to new heights in 2025.
The team’s refusal to back down was demonstrated perfectly in the club’s monumental battle against O’Connor this past Saturday at the Delmar Fieldhouse. After five sets, the Eagles not only earned some payback against the Panthers — who were the last team to defeat them all the way back in August — but also extended the program’s historic campaign by securing a spot in the 6A-D1 State Final.
On the stat sheet, Koonsen has built a near-irrefutable case for District 22-6A MVP honors, with well over 500 kills and 300 digs to her name this season. More importantly, the soon-to-be SFA Lumberjack could potentially help Dawson secure a title in a highly anticipated matchup with Byron Nelson this Saturday.
Nadi'ya Shelby -- Friendswood Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Friendswood’s pursuit of its first championship since 1994 was unfortunately cut short by Cedar Park this past weekend. Still, a 37–10 finish and the program’s 11th appearance in the UIL State Final Four speak volumes about the consistency and structure established by head coach Sarah Paulk and her staff.
A central reason for that reliability has been clear for years. Across four seasons, Nadi’ya Shelby has remained one of the most genuinely entertaining and gifted volleyball players in Texas — much less Houston — anchoring Friendswood’s identity with her presence on the outside.
By season’s end, Shelby delivered 509 kills, 207 digs, and 398 serve receptions, once again proving to be the Mustangs’ metronome in high-pressure moments. Another District MVP selection was just announced for the Florida-signee, which marks the third consecutive time she's received the distinction -- further cementing her place as one of the program’s all-time greats.
Aniston Collins -- Lutheran South Academy Volleyball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
It’s safe to say no team was quite as commanding as LSA (31–8) on Houston’s private-school scene this fall. The Geoff Stresman-led Pioneers validated their preseason No. 1 ranking by steamrolling their way to the TAPPS 5A State Final — the program’s fifth appearance all-time and first since 2023.
And while All Saints Episcopal ultimately denied them the crown, Lutheran South more than earned its share of recognition throughout a dominant campaign.
Among the playmakers who powered that run, senior Aniston Collins’ influence was perhaps the most palpable.
In addition to securing TAPPS All-Tournament honors, another all-state nod is essentially assured for LSA’s dynamic setter. The SFA-signee closed out 2025 with a team-leading 388 kills, supported by 498 assists and 203 digs — a stat line that reflects both her versatility and her central role in the Pioneers’ system.
Even if the season didn’t end the way they envisioned, it’s hard to argue against how loaded this group was — and just how vital Collins proved to be in getting them back onto the State stage.
Peyton Aldridge -- Clear Lake Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
What a monumental year it was for Clear Lake. Not only did the Falcons (29–16) end a five-year playoff drought, but they followed it by knocking off Goose Creek Memorial and Shadow Creek en route to the 6A-D2 Regional Semifinals.
That kind of precedent doesn’t materialize without a fortified sense of cohesion — and without dependable talent steering things on the court. For Clear Lake, senior setter Peyton Aldridge was at the center of that push, assuming a starring role throughout the campaign and elevating the Falcons’ ceiling week after week.
Aldridge helped unlock the team’s offense in full, eclipsing 1,000 assists and 400 digs this fall, production that earned her first-team, all-district honors and underscored her value as the group’s primary orchestrator. And while she’ll graduate at year’s end, the new standard she helped establish is an achievement that should continue to shape Clear Lake’s trajectory moving forward.
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