High School Spotlight: Cypress Ranch Mustangs
The high school volleyball season is underway in Texas and talented young players have been showcasing their skills in every corner of the Lone Star state. One of our missions at Prep Dig is to highlight as many teams and…
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Continue ReadingThe high school volleyball season is underway in Texas and talented young players have been showcasing their skills in every corner of the Lone Star state.
One of our missions at Prep Dig is to highlight as many teams and prospects as possible around the state, from State Championship contenders and household names to underdogs and special talents who might be flying under-the-radar.
We spend a lot of time at the gyms gathering information and watching matches and will use this space to highlight some of the teams and players we got to watch in person. Let’s talk about the Cypress Ranch Mustangs.
Cypress Ranch Mustangs
The Lady Mustangs play for the Cypress Ranch High School from the Houston neighborhood of Cypress. The team led by head coach Crissy Woodward sits at the top of the standings of the Class 6A, Region II – District 16 with an undefeated campaign of 13 wins and is among the best in the state with their overall 37-3 win record.
Program Sweep of Langham Creek and a great turnout for our Pink Out night! Both teams contributed donations to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Big thanks to everyone for their efforts towards a great cause! 💗#BreastCancerAwarenessMonth pic.twitter.com/2TkY5mZYpv
— Cy Ranch Volleyball (@CyRanchVball) October 20, 2021
Players to Watch:
Bianna Muoneke – Outside Hitter – Club: Houston Juniors – 2023
A heavy-armed, six-foot outside hitter, Bianna Muoneke has been instrumental to Cypress Ranch’s successful campaign this season. A Texas A&M commit, she takes up a lot of the team’s scoring responsibilities and doesn’t disappoint, sending bombs everywhere across the net. Also a solid passer and defender, Muoneke is truly unstoppable when in-system and hitting a shoot set at the pin. Her topspin jump serve is one of the strongest in the entire state and even when she goes more tactical with a floater, opponents also struggle with it. Her offensive production has been fantastic this season, with 602 kills (and an impressive 49.7% kill rate), but also have been her 74 aces, 360 digs, 429 passes and 24 blocks.
Taryn Gilreath Taryn Gilreath 6'0" | S Cy Ranch | 2024 State TX – Right Sider – Club: Houston Juniors – 2024
Athletic, technical and extremely intelligent, Taryn Gilreath Taryn Gilreath 6'0" | S Cy Ranch | 2024 State TX is one of those players who could play any position. Coach Woodward has been smart to use her as a right sider, where the Lady Mustangs can benefit from both her setting and hitting abilities. An athletic freak, who can jump high and still keep impressive body control while in the air, Gilreath has a great touch on the ball and, at 5’10” and with long arms, is also a very good blocker. Her offense is both powerful and smart as she consistently makes the right choice between hitting hard or tipping the ball to an open spot. She has been equally important for the Lady Mustangs when setting, registering 507 assists (4.7 per set), and hitting, tallying 243 kills (2.3 per set). Gilreath has also produced 173 digs, 35 blocks and 33 digs.
Taylor Porter – Outside Hitter – Club: Houston Skyline – 2025
Taylor Porter’s arrival this summer means Cypress Ranch will have an elite outside hitter in its lineup in years to come. As with any freshman, the 5’11” prospect still has some adjustments to make in her game, but is already able to play at a really high level and is a great decision-maker, which is remarkable for a first-year player with such a high level of usage. Her physical tools are truly impressive as she’s still capable of putting a lot of power on the ball even when she’s unable to make a full approach to hit. Offense has been the highlight of her season so far, with 352 kills registered, but she’s also been a valuable asset on defense (303 digs), serve-receiving (326 passes) and serving (36 aces).