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LOVB Spotlight: Grand Oaks' Thompson departs international flight to drive Grizzlies to win
Hours after getting off an international flight from Indonesia, where she played for USA Volleyball, Grand Oaks’ Halle Thompson was back at it for the back-to-back State Champ Grizzlies.
The 9-4 Grand Oaks Grizzlies went across I-45 to face VYPE-ranked The Woodlands at home.
Game time was at 5:30 and the Wisconsin-commit did not look jet-lagged at all.
The Grizzles (1-0 in district) swept the Highlanders with Thompson dominating in all facets of the game.
“I just love volleyball, what can I say?” Thompson smiled. “It was a long day but there is no other place I’d rather be than helping my team. I can sleep later.”
The game was somewhat tight in the first two games, when the Highlander fans started in on the “Overrated” chants.
Bad idea.
...
LISTEN UP: Volleyball stars becoming household names; Fifth Avenue targets
We are in a Renaissance of women’s sports like we have never seen.
Social media, television, live streaming, marketing, big personalities, and the elevated level of play have all collided in a perfect storm—and women are riding the wave with style and swagger.
Caitlyn, Angel, Paige, Harper, Madisen, Livvy, Birdie—these aren’t household names; they’re the life blood of Madison Avenue’s next ad campaigns.
Female high school and college athletes are building their social platforms at an astounding pace.
It’s nothing short of brilliant.
Big brands are clamoring to connect with these micro and macro influencers, who are redefining what it means to be an athlete in 2025.
These girls aren’t just running side hustles for coffee money; they’re captaining empires—collaborating with athletic wear giants, skincare powerhouses, and everything in between.
In Greater Houston, volleyball isn’t just a sport—it’s the epicenter of elite talent and marketable athletes.
Flip through the pages of our 2025 VYPE Volleyball preview and you’ll see what we mean.
Winning and recruiting don’t hurt, either—everyone loves a winner, right? And the biggest influencer in Texas high school volleyball? None other than Grand Oaks. With back-to-back UIL Class 6A titles under their belt, they’re gunning for a historic third.
At the heart of the Grizzly den is the nation’s next big star—Halle Thompson. She’s not just the pride of Texas volleyball; she’s heading to Wisconsin, taking her talents and brand to the national stage.
This year’s cover girls weren’t chosen by accident.
Marketability, elite-level play, and college signings—these are the pieces of the new sports business puzzle. Because today, being really good isn’t enough anymore.
It’s time to connect all the dots.
See you all on the court in 2025.