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Whataburger Team of the Week: All eyes are now on surging Dawson Volleyball squad
For a program that’s made consistency its calling card, the Dawson Eagles are already setting a familiar tone in 2025—one built on execution and a competitive edge.
Since taking over in 2018, head coach Lauren Leth has crafted a culture that values the long haul. Her teams rarely just show up—they sustain. Formerly at Barbers Hill, Leth has guided Dawson to the postseason every year at the helm, extending what has become one of the most dependable playoff streaks in Texas volleyball.
That tradition doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Coming off a 32-11 campaign in 2024, Dawson is off to a scorching 14-1 start this fall. The Eagles went unbeaten at the Houston Invitational and appear poised to make another statement at the upcoming Volleypalooza Tournament in Austin.
Their only blemish so far—a five-set battle with Cypress Ranch—was the kind of loss that reflects strength more than setback.
Along the way, the team has notched statement wins over the likes of Tompkins, Ridge Point, Seven Lakes, Cy-Fair, Deer Park. and most recently, College Park. And while the postseason is always part of the conversation, the immediate focus is on reclaiming the District 22-6A title—no small feat in a group that includes Pearland, Shadow Creek, Manvel, and Dobie.
On the court, senior leadership remains the backbone.
Jenna Thedford (Texas A&M-commit), Avery Koonsen (SFA), Keaton Points (University of San Francisco), Destiny Lyons (Temple College), Julia Wright, Isabella Tijerina, and Grand Canyon University-bound sisters Taylor and Sloane Ranney bring experience and presence at nearly every position.
There’s also promising youth on the roster, including freshman setter Alexa Koonsen—Avery’s younger sister—who’s already shown the poise and timing to contribute when her number is called.
Through the early stretch of the season, Dawson continues to play with the control and confidence of a team that knows who it is—and more importantly, what it’s capable of becoming.
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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