GAMES
RANKINGS
Tomball Sr. Libero/DS Gemma Hopkins
THE FAMILY BUSINESS: Tomball’s Hopkins has been competing since birth
The bar has always been set high for Tomball’s Gemma Hopkins.
It started with older sister Lily Hopkins, who played at Tomball and still plays college ball at Texas-Arlington. Then came Catcher Hopkins, who has won a pair of state titles for Tomball baseball and is headed to play for Texas A&M.
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.”

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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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Emily Hubacek of Lake Highlands
THE STANDARD: Lake Highlands' Hubacek intentional in building power program
Building a program from the ground up is never easy, but Lake Highlands head coach Emily Hubacek has wasted little time establishing a championship standard.
In just its first season, the new program exceeded expectations by finishing undefeated in district play and capturing a district championship. While the results were impressive, Hubacek knows sustaining success presents an entirely new challenge as the Wildcats prepare for a much tougher district in 2026.
"When you're starting a new program, the biggest challenge is getting everyone to buy in," Hubacek said. "Not just the players, but the parents as well."
That buy-in has become the foundation of everything Lake Highlands does. Hubacek has built an intentional culture that extends far beyond the volleyball court. Every workout has a purpose. Every practice has a standard. Even the relationships her players build away from the gym are viewed as an extension of the program.
"Our culture is very intentional—from how we work out, to who we hang out with off the court, to how we play every point," she said.
With a tougher schedule looming, much of the offseason emphasis has centered on conditioning and preparing for the physical demands of competing against stronger opponents. One message has been repeated throughout the offseason.
No complacency.
Winning a district title in Year One was an accomplishment, but it doesn't guarantee future success. Every position must continue to be earned, and competition is embraced rather than avoided.
"This is not for everyone," Hubacek said. "If it were easy, everyone would do it. Our kids have to have the mentality to compete every day—for their spot, for that game, for that match. We feed on competition."
That mindset has quickly become the identity of the program. Lake Highlands isn't satisfied with simply having a successful inaugural season.
The Wildcats are focused on building a culture capable of sustaining success year after year, regardless of who graduates or which district they compete in.






























