GAMES
RANKINGS
Seven Lakes' Gracie Hobin (Vanderbilt commit)
POWER GRID: VYPE Houston Volleyball Rankings | Seven Lakes, Grand Oaks, TMHS Elevate After Key Rivalry Wins
Meanwhile, Seven Lakes gets a sizable boost after an unblemished start to district play, highlighted by pivotal victories over Tompkins and Jordan. Grand Oaks also strengthened its standing by pulling off a reverse sweep over College Park, putting the Grizzlies firmly at the front of the 13-6A race as they pursue their fifth straight district title.
Atascocita, Stratford, Pearland, Fort Bend Austin also made notable moves upward, while Tomball Memorial and Dickinson make their respective debuts on the list.
The overall power dynamic remains largely unchanged in 5A, with Lake Creek holding onto the top spot after sweeping cross-town rival Montgomery. Friendswood continues to set the pace in District 20-5A, while Galveston Ball has quietly emerged as a formidable challenger.
In the private-school ranks, Episcopal skyrockets to No. 1 after a series of benchmark wins over fellow powerhouses, including John Cooper, Lutheran South Academy, and defending SPC 4A champion St. John’s. At the same time, Cypress Christian and FBCA are primed for an entertaining TAPPS 5A district race, setting the stage for what could be an extensive playoff run.
Grand Oaks Grizzlies
Matt Powell (VYPE)
*** The second section shows the team’s current record (per MaxPreps as of 9/27/2026)
VYPE Houston 6A Top 20 Volleyball Rankings — End of September 2026
2. Klein Oak Panthers — 35-4 | 8-1 in District 15-6A
3. Cypress Ranch Mustangs — 26-7 | 6-0 in District 23-6A
4. Memorial Mustangs — 30-3 | 9-0 in District 20-6A
5. Clear Springs Chargers — 27-8 | 6-0 in District 18-6A
6. Seven Lakes Spartans — 22-10 | 8-0 in District 22-6A
7. Tompkins Falcons — 22-6 | 8-1 in District 22-6A
8. Grand Oaks Grizzlies — 25-11 | 6-0 in District 13-6A
9. Fulshear Chargers — 21-10 | 5-1 in District 23-6A
10. College Park Cavaliers — 21-9 | 5-1 in District 13-6A
11. Atascocita Eagles — 18-5 | 6-0 in District 17-6A
12. Dawson Eagles — 24-11 | 9-0 in District 19-6A
13. Tomball Memorial Wildcats — 22-12 | 7-2 in District 15-6A
14. Bridgeland Bears — 17-11 | 4-2 in District 23-6A
15. Stratford Spartans — 23-11 | 7-1 in District 20-6A
16. Pearland Oilers — 22-12 | 8-1 in District 19-6A
17. Jordan Warriors — 21-10 | 6-3 in District 22-6A
18. Fort Bend Austin Bulldogs — 25-9 | 6-0 in District 21-6A
19. Dickinson Gators — 23-8 | 5-1 in District 18-6A
20. Shadow Creek Sharks — 20-12 | 6-2 in District 19-6A
Others to Watch: Clear Lake Falcons (18-6A), Summer Creek Bulldogs (17-6A), Barbers Hill Eagles (18-6A), Oak Ridge War Eagles (13-6A), Langham Creek Lobos (16-6A), Ridge Point Panthers (21-6A), Magnolia Bulldogs (15-6A), Cy-Fair Bobcats (16-6A), Katy Tigers (22-6A), Deer Park Deer (18-6A), Foster Falcons (23-6A), Cypress Woods Wildcats (16-6A), Waller Bulldogs (23-6A), Manvel Mavericks (19-6A), Mayde Creek Rams (22-6A)
VYPE Houston 5A/4A Top 10 Volleyball Rankings — End of September 2026
1. Lake Creek Lions (5A) — 30-9 | 5-1 in District 17-5A
2. Friendswood Mustangs (5A) — 26-6 | 9-0 in District 20-5A
3. Montgomery Bears (5A) — 30-8 | 4-2 in District 17-5A
4. Kempner Cougars (5A) — 27-2 | 9-0 in District 22-5A
5. West Fork Gators (5A) — 26-9 | 5-0 in District 18-5A
6. Galveston Ball Tornadoes (5A) — 27-7 | 8-1 in District 20-5A
7. Iowa Colony Pioneers (5A) — 24-9 | 7-2 in District 20-5A
8. Bellville Brahmas (4A) — 26-11 | 6-0 in District 23-4A
9. Huffman Hargrave Falcons (4A) — 24-9 | 3-1 in District 19-4A
10. Livingston Lions (4A) — 24-9 | 2-2 in District 19-4A
Others to Watch: Liberty Panthers (19-4A), Lamar Consolidated Mustangs (22-5A), La Porte Bulldogs (20-5A), Dayton Broncos (19-5A), Angleton Wildcats (20-5A), Kingwood Park Panthers (18-5A)
VYPE Houston Private School Top 5 Volleyball Rankings — End of September 2026
2. The John Cooper School Dragons — 19-5 | 0-2 in SPC 4A
3. Cypress Christian Warriors — 21-5-1 | 3-0 in TAPPS District 5-5A
4. Fort Bend Christian Academy Eagles — 14-7-1 | 3-1 in TAPPS District 5-5A
Others to Watch: Second Baptist Eagles, St. John XXIII Lions, Concordia Lutheran Crusaders, St. John's School Mavericks, Providence Classical Paladins, Houston Christian Mustangs, The Awty International School Rams
The Kinkaid School's Wayne Shanks Jr. (Arizona commit)
COLD STANDARD: Shanks Jr. brings more than a distinctive brand to Kinkaid’s pursuit of another SPC crown
“Going from middle school to high school, I came up with it off the top of my head, and from there it just stuck with me,” Shanks said. “A couple of guys at Kinkaid helped me start doing the shivering motion, and it kind of became my thing. I feel like it’s definitely helped set me apart.”
Shanks' signature "Too Cold" poseBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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That identity has followed Shanks into one of the most dominant stretches of his career. The three-star Arizona commit erupted for 2,461 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns last fall, propelling the Falcons (9-2) to back-to-back SPC 4A championships while earning MVP honors and All-SPC recognition along the way.
Few organizations can rival the legacy that The Kinkaid School has built, boasting 34 SPC titles — seven of which have come in the last ten seasons alone. Shanks’ dynamic playmaking as a centerpiece in head coach Nathan Larned’s offensive scheme has the Falcons positioned to chase a third straight championship.
The modern running back has evolved into much more than a ball carrier, and Shanks embodies that shift. Drawing inspiration from the all-around skill sets of NFL stars such as Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey, he has embraced the role of a complete offensive weapon capable of changing the game in multiple ways.
“I think my versatility and being able to do a little bit of everything on the field has helped me establish myself,” he said. “Whether I need to catch passes, run somebody over, contribute on special teams, return kicks or punts — it’s wherever I need to be to help the team.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
That same selfless approach will be critical as Kinkaid looks to extend its championship streak to three.
“We’re going to need a strong foundation of team chemistry to get there,” Shanks said. “We’d be the first team to do it in the SPC (4A), so it’s about holding each other accountable, staying connected, and making sure the work we’ve put in throughout the offseason shows up on the field.”
The recognition surrounding Shanks has only expanded his platform, but he understands the impact of football reaches far beyond what happens on Friday nights.
“Football is only going to last so long, so you have to build the way people view you beyond the sport,” he said. “You want to be someone who is family-oriented, shows good sportsmanship, and genuinely cares about other people. It takes a lot of discipline and preparation to become the person you want to be, and I have my parents and Jesus Christ to thank for helping me get there. That’s the type of person I want to be known as.”
As Shanks continues to carve his place in Kinkaid history, “Too Cold” represents more than a celebration — it’s a reflection of the humility, confidence, and commitment that have guided him throughout his journey.
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