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Alief Elsik's Koi Reed
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The Class of 2027 standout has learned how to balance it all — and he’s doing it at an elite level.
Reed is currently the No. 2-ranked student in his class, while also making an impact on the football field, competing on the basketball court and playing bass in the orchestra.
His secret? Take it one thing at a time.
“I just schedule it out, keep my mind focused and get plenty of sleep,” Reed said. “That’s my formula to give 100 percent in everything I do.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
On the football field, Reed is looking to take his game to another level in 2026. His goals are anything but modest.
“I’m trying to have over 15 sacks and 10 tackles for loss,” Reed said.
That relentless mindset is fueled by the physicality of the game and a deep appreciation for how much he has developed as an athlete. Reed says he’s amazed when he looks back at how much he has grown over the past few years.
He gives the glory to God and embraces the physical gifts he has been given.
“I’m supposed to play this sport with the size I was given,” he said. “It allows me to play the way I want to play. It pushes me to work with the grit and grind that this sport takes.”
Football may be his primary sport, but basketball has become an important part of Reed’s development. The explosiveness, athleticism and footwork he uses on the hardwood translate directly to the football field. And the physicality goes both ways.
“When I need to hit somebody, I just use what I do in football to absorb contact and get to the rim or get a rebound,” Reed said.
But when he’s playing basketball, Reed isn't thinking about football. He’s there to compete — and have fun.
“What I love about basketball is to have fun, go out on the court with the crowd and get some buckets,” he said. “Play the game for what it is. At the end of the day, it’s about having fun.”
Then there’s another side of Reed that might surprise people. He’s a musician.
Reed plays bass in the orchestra, a passion he picked up in middle school when he decided he wanted to learn an instrument. Music has become another outlet and another way to challenge himself.
“I wanted to learn an instrument,” he said. “When I talk to people, I have something to talk about.”
It’s just another example of Reed refusing to limit himself.
A Competitor in the Classroom
The same competitive fire that drives Reed on the football field and basketball court shows up in the classroom.
As the No. 2 student in his class, he takes academics seriously.
“I’m very competitive in the classroom,” Reed said. “It’s the same in sports, but in a classroom.”
He does whatever he can to earn the highest grades possible — completing extra credit, turning assignments in on time and maintaining the same work ethic he brings to the field.
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Kempner's Olivia Algard
Matt Powell (VYPE)
"I speak Swedish at the house," Algard said. "I always talk about it with my friends. It's a very beautiful place. I have so much family there."
Algard still returns to Sweden for vacations, making sure the connection to her birthplace remains strong even as Texas has become home.
Her journey to Texas came with a major adjustment. When Algard first arrived in the United States, she didn't know a single word of English.
"I was in kindergarten crying all day because I couldn't understand anything," she said.
But it didn't take long for the young Algard to find her voice. She picked up the language quickly, and before long, she was finding another way to communicate—through volleyball.
Matt Powell (VYPE)
That passion began in third grade when she joined a church league. From there, the game continued to grow into something much bigger. She eventually joined a club program, and volleyball became a central part of her life.
Today, Algard can't imagine her life without it.
"The connections you make with people and the memories you make," she said. "That's what I love about it."
And she's not limiting herself to just one version of the sport. Outside of indoor volleyball, Algard plays beach volleyball, an experience she believes has helped expand her game and make her a more complete player. She's hoping to continue playing beach volleyball at the collegiate level.
"It's a whole different game than indoor," Algard said. "It opens my range of volleyball. In the sand, you have to play every position, which makes you a very versatile player on the court."
That versatility is important for an outside hitter, but Algard's biggest growth may come from learning how to manage the expectations she places on herself.
"I try my best, but I'm very hard on myself," she said. “It’s something that I need to get better at. It’s impossible to be perfect, but that is just how I’m programmed.”
Being the oldest of three children has also helped shape her approach. Algard understands that her younger siblings are watching her, and she takes that responsibility seriously.
"I'm the oldest of three," she said. "I show them the way. I try to be a good example for them to follow whether it be in sports or just in everyday life."
That leadership doesn't necessarily have to come from being the loudest person in the room. Sometimes it comes from setting an example, working hard and showing up every day.
And when Algard needs inspiration, she doesn't have to look far. Her grandmother holds that special place in her life.
"My grandma is my biggest inspiration," Algard said. "I love her a lot. I’m her favorite and we just have a really special bond. She lives in Sweden so I don’t see her much, but our connection is strong."
Away from the court, Algard is a fan of romance movies and shows, with rom-coms among her favorites. She also listens to Lana Del Rey, giving her plenty of ways to unwind when volleyball takes a back seat.
But ultimately, volleyball remains her passion.
From a little girl in Sweden who arrived in America unable to speak English to a confident outside hitter dreaming of playing beach volleyball in college, Algard's story is one of finding her place.
She found it on the court. And she plans to keep going.
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