GAMES
RANKINGS
The stars of 2024-25 Friendswood Volleyball
THE TIME IS NOW: No. 1 Friendswood armed with a championship-caliber roster
NO. 1 -- FRIENDSWOOD MUSTANGS
Head Coach: Sarah Paulk
2023: 28-10/Regional Quarterfinalists
FRIENDSWOOD REACHED THE REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS A YEAR AGO ON THE HEELS OF AN UNDEFEATED (12-0) DISTRICT TITLE, AND FINISHING WITH A 28-10 RECORD.
Sarah Paulk enters year nine of leading the program and passed the 250-career-coaching mark in 2023.
She will have plenty of firepower back, as six out of eight key returners are back into the huddle, which makes this team dangerous.
Junior OH Nadi’ya Shelby (Florida-commit) is back to lead the way for 2024, following yet another stunning performance, which earned her District 18-5A MVP honors.
All-State setter Caroline Adams, Newcomer of the Year Haley Patton, and TGCA All-Star team selection Jordyn Sims (The Citadel-commit) are also back.
Don’t forget about first-team, all-district picks Preslee Alaniz (Southwestern Oklahoma State-commit) and Taliah Benson, who are all back into the mix.
Friendswood is the team to beat in Houston, and they’ll be eager to rewrite their ending from last year.
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The stars of 2023-24 Friendswood Volleyball
MUSTANG NATION: No. 2 Friendswood primed to rep Class 5A
FRIENDSWOOD FITS THE YOUTH MOVEMENT BILL UNDER SARAH PAULK (293-130), WHO ENTERS HER EIGHTH SEASON LEADING THE MUSTANGS.
Friendswood went 34-12 a year ago and reached the Regional Quarterfinals. Seven of the nine starters for Paulk return in 2023, led by sophomore Nadi’Ya Shelby, who was named the District 18-5A MVP and the Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association Newcomer of the Year. Shelby led the team in kills with 300 a year ago and vertically can reach 10-feet-6-inches.
Caroline Adams is the other sophomore, who had an impact as a freshman. Adams (432 assists) was moved up to varsity last year after the tournament season and started every match at setter from that point on.
Other players to take note of include Meghan Donoughue (443 assists, 222 digs), Sydney Gibson (316 digs, 284 kills), Jordyn Sims (230 kills), Isabella Thompson (194 kills, 102 blocks) and Andi Vaught (155 digs), who is a captain and “calming spark plug” on the court.