GAMES
RANKINGS
Dawson's Jenna Thedford (Texas A&M-commit)
LOVB Spotlight: Thedford a brilliant force within a championship-caliber Dawson squad
As the Dawson Eagles continue their red-hot start to the season, senior libero Jenna Thedford remains the steady presence behind their defensive dominance.
A Texas A&M-commit and the reigning District 22-6A Defensive Player of the Year, Thedford enters her final high school campaign with more than 600 digs and 100 assists to her name from last fall — numbers that speak to her relentless impact.
Now 14-1 and rising quickly in the state rankings, Dawson has already knocked off elite competition, including College Park, Tompkins, Seven Lakes, and Ridge Point — the latter being a particularly meaningful sweep after Ridge Point ended the Eagles’ playoff run last year.
Despite that early exit, it’s worth remembering the Eagles had reached the Regional Tournament seven straight seasons before that — a standard hardly resembling “underperformance”.
As Thedford patrols the back row on a seasoned roster built for pressure moments, head coach Lauren Leth’s group looks more poised than ever.
There’s no question who sets the tone defensively — and with Thedford at the center, Dawson is shaping up to be more than just a prospective State-contender. They're becoming a favorite.
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THE RANKINGS: Thedford is "her" at No. 6 Pearland Dawson
PEARLAND DAWSON WENT 14-2 IN DISTRICT PLAY A YEAR AGO AND REACHED THE BI-DISTRICT ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS.
The Eagles are a perennial playoff program, no doubt about it. Over the past 16 seasons, Dawson has been in the dance, and this fall should be no different. Lauren Leth, who got her 400th career coaching victory in 2024, returns six starters to the squad.
Texas A&M-commit Jenna Thedford will lead the way for the Eagles, after being named the District 22-6A Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
Additionally, the transfer of former Pearland star, Avery Koonsen (SFA-commit), just further bolsters this already stacked squad. Koonsen, a six-rotation outside hitter, earned first-team, all-district honors along with being GHVCA first-team in her most recent campaign.
Also watch out for a pair of GCU-Beach volleyball commits in Taylor Ranney and Sloane Ranney. The duo, a setter and outside hitter, respectively, both earned first-team, all-district honors.
Other key returners include first-teamer Keaton Points (middle hitter) and second-team selection Julia Wright (middle hitter).
For Leth, keys to success boil down to four words – cohesive, experience, dynamic and defensive.
This group will lean on a senior-laden class and a group that has played together since the seventh grade.
With a solid returning backline and an offense that will move and attack in every position, this team is primed for a deep run.