GAMES
RANKINGS
2021 VYPE DFW All-VYPE Public School Volleyball Team Announced
With the volleyball season at a close and state champions crowned, it was a season full of great wins, big plays, and strong moments on the court for Dallas-Fort Worth area volleyball teams. Lovejoy won their ninth state title- this time under a brand new head coach.
With plenty of amazing talent to pick from, it's time to release the 2021 VYPE DFW All-VYPE Public School Volleyball Team. Become a VYPE Insider today to see the full team including team and coach of the year.
Team of the year: Lucas Lovejoy Leopards
- Lovejoy won their third-straight Class 5A state championship game earlier this year marking their ninth state title. Moreover, the team came together with a brand new head coach in order to accomplish this feat! Lovejoy was able to post huge wins over the likes of Prosper, Hebron, McKinney Boyd, and more en route to their state title.
Coach of the year: Natalie Puckett, Lucas Lovejoy Leopards
- After taking over for Ryan Mitchell, former assistant coach, Natalie Puckett, became Lovejoy's head coach and continued to build the legacy of the team. Puckett, a former Lovejoy athlete herself, helped lead the team as an athlete during their 2008, 2009, and 2010 state title runs. Puckett helped lead Lovejoy to a 42-6 overall record this season which included a third-straight Class 5A State Title victory in November.
Hitter of the year: Melanie McGann, Keller
Middle of the year: Lindsey Harris, Northwest Eaton
Setter of the year: Rosemary Archer, Lovejoy
Utility of the year: Janet deMarrais, Grapevine
Newcomer of the year: Ayden Ames, Prosper
1st Team
Hitter: Maya Duckworth, Birdville
Middle: Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Flower Mound Marcus
Libero: Emily Canaan, Allen
Setter: Taylor Polivka, Keller
Utility: Paige Mooney, Northwest V.R. Eaton
2nd Team
Hitter: Ella Busey, Colleyville Heritage
Middle: Hannah Gonzalez, Lovejoy
Libero: Ava Camacho, Lovejoy
Setter: Courtney Hanson, Arlington Martin
Utility: Harmony Sample, Hebron
3rd Team
Hitter: Maggie Boyd, Flower Mound Marcus
Middle: Ellie Alexander, Granbury
Libero: Missy Varni, Granbury
Setter: Lily Nicholson, McKinney North
Utility: Lindzi Thomas, Sanger
Honorable Mention
Hitter (6): Emily Hellmuth, Highland Park; Kyndal Stowers, Denton Guyer; Blaire Bayless, Plano West; Hannah Billeter, McKinney Boyd; Brynn Williams, Mansfield; Vivian Parker, Aledo
Middle (3): Lainee Pyles, Keller Fossil Ridge; Landry Baughman, Richardson Berkner; Kate Hansen, Weatherford
Libero (2): Naylani Feliciano, Plano; Tatum Parker, Fort Worth Paschal
Setter (3): Morgan Howard, Colleyville Heritage; Jessica Dunn, Southlake Carroll; Mattie Gant, Aledo
Utility (2): Emilee Casey, Midlothian Heritage; Killian Armstrong, Midlothian
Photo from San Marcos Daily Record.
Hooper Presley Excited For New Opportunity At San Marcos
By VYPE Media's Olivia Jones.
After an exciting and productive career at Kyle Lehman High School, junior basketball player Kayla Presley transferred to nearby San Marcos High School and is ready to play the 2019-2020 season there.
"Receiving the award sophomore year made me realize that hard work does pay off," said Presley, an athlete who's coming off back-to-back seasons with a UIL 25-6A first-team all-district honor.
Playing on a new team after two seasons at Kyle Lehman can be a daunting task, but Presley is excited and ready for what's ahead.
"Coach [Brad] Taylor taught us that we are more than just teammates [and] we're family," she said of the bond that she had with her former coach and team.
Presley cherishes her time with Kyle Lehman and plans to have a similar experience this season. She's been playing with many of her San Marcos teammates since she was a child, so she believes they have "chemistry and just need to yield the reaction to create a product."
By product, she means playoffs. When asked about her expectations for this season, she is confident that her team will make the postseason by taking it one game at a time.
She credits her academic success to her chemistry teachers, Ms. Pope and Mrs. Englehardt, for pushing her to be the best student she can be in school, and is also excited for this basketball season and her team being coached by Veronda Kendall, who she calls Coach K Swizzle.
The Lady Rattlers will definitely be a team to watch this season, as Presley adjusts to her new role with them and works towards earning her third straight first-team all-district honor. This time, it would be in her new UIL 26-6A home.
Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.