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RANKINGS
The featured standouts of the 2026–27 Tomball Cougars volleyball team.
THE SETUP: No. 2 Tomball | VYPE Houston Volleyball 2026 Preseason Rankings
Arkansas commit Gemma Hopkins anchors the backline after capturing District 15-6A MVP honors last fall. While liberos rarely claim that distinction, Hopkins left little room for debate, piling up more than 600 digs, 539 receptions, and 161 assists during an exemplary junior season.
First-team all-district setter Greysen Ortmeier, now a sophomore, enjoyed a monumental varsity debut for the Coogs, compiling more than 1,100 assists and 300 digs. As her chemistry with a seasoned core of teammates continues to grow, those numbers could climb even higher.
Defensively, senior Maddux Doty provides another steady presence alongside Hopkins in the back row. Tomball’s attack will feature no shortage of weapons, headlined by seniors Georgia Hornes (UT Tyler commit), Taylor Choate (Wharton County JC), and Kennedy Spencer, alongside junior standout Kinsley Moretti. Each earned all-district recognition a year ago, giving the Cougars a versatile group of offensive threats.
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Tomball's Taylor Choate (Sr. OH)Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Tomball Sr. Libero/DS Gemma Hopkins
THE FAMILY BUSINESS: Tomball’s Hopkins has been competing since birth
The genes are rich in the Hopkins’ household… a big smile, wild hair and a go-get 'em flare for their respective sports.
“Lily really got us going,” Gemma Hopkins said. “She was the trailblazer. She showed us that competing, sticking to the routines and trusting the process, that we could live out our dreams too.”
Iron sharpens iron with these siblings.
“We really push each other and compete with each other,” she laughed. “You’ve got to see us play board games as a family. It’s brutal. We really love to hang out together. Everyone is fun and chill one moment, and the next we are going at it.”
Hopkins is the quarterback of the Tomball Cougars. As the libero, everything works off of her energy.
“I’m all over the place,” she said. “My job is to keep the ball off the court, whatever it takes.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE 2026 VYPE HOUSTON VOLLEYBALL MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE 2026 CITYWIDE PHOTOSHOOT
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE
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She’s pretty elite at that, helping the Cougars advance to the State Tournament last year with a relatively young squad.
“We want to win State… that’s it,” she said. “We have a great, young setter and some great hitters… and me. We have the pieces to do it this year.
“We have another year of experience and know what State looks like. We have even more chemistry than a year ago.”
Time waits for no one, and before long the all-state setter will be off to college at the University of Arkansas with her recognizable curls and break-neck playing style.
“I was about the people at Arkansas,” she said. “They are really investing in me and they know how seriously I take volleyball. I love the type of player they recruit… I can see them as my best friends.”
There isn’t much Gemma Hopkins can’t do?
“I love to sing and have really gotten into knitting,” she laughed. “I do theatre and love to perform in musicals. I’ve started knitting blankets but I’m challenging myself to do more complicated things. I need to up my game with my knitting.”
The self-improvement never ends.
Did we fail to mention that there is another Hopkins entering the chat? Ace Hopkins is going to be a freshman at Tomball this year.
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