High School Spotlight: Manvel Mavericks
The high school volleyball season has just finished in Texas and during the last four months we got to watch the countless talented young players who have showcased their skills in every corner of the Lone Star state. One of…
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Continue ReadingThe high school volleyball season has just finished in Texas and during the last four months we got to watch the countless talented young players who have showcased 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 over the last few months. In this article, we’ll discuss the Manvel Mavericks.
Manvel Mavericks
The Lady Mavericks from the Manvel High School in Southeast Houston had a remarkable campaign, advancing all the way to the State Tournament, where they fell to eventual champions Lovejoy in the semifinals. Head coach Susan Kennedy and her young squad cruised past Class 5A, Region III – District 22 with 16 wins and ended an extremely positive season with a 37-12 win record.
Congratulations to this group of girls right here! Regional Quarterfinalist Champions!! Round 4! Let’s keep the s going ladies! So proud of you! 💙♥️HokaHey pic.twitter.com/Zcd8x3fkqD
— Manvel Volleyball (@ManvelVBall) November 10, 2021
Players to Watch:
Devyn Lewis Devyn Lewis 6'1" | MB Manvel | 2023 State TX – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter – Club: Absolute Volleyball Academy – 2023
Devyn Lewis Devyn Lewis 6'1" | MB Manvel | 2023 State TX is listed as a middle blocker but her role with this Manvel is by no means limited to one position or role. The 6’1” junior splits times between the middle and the pin while at the net and also remains on the court when she’s at the backcourt, helping with passing and providing another scoring threat for the Lady Mavericks. Very athletic, Lewis has a tremendously heavy arm and can score in any situation. Ranked 29th in our 2023 Prep Dig State Rankings, she’s also an excellent server. She produced a team-high 480 kills besides 51 aces, 47 blocks, 447 digs and 491 passes.
Kenedy Massie – Setter – Club: Houston Skyline – 2025
Kenedy Massie looked like anything but a freshman on the court. On her first season running the Lady Mavericks’ offense, she looked like a veteran out there, remaining calm regardless of the situation and achieving a level of consistency players in her position take years to. One of the keys for Massie’s consistency is the fact that she has great footwork and is able to put herself in position to set even when out-of-system. She has great size at 5’10” and is an asset at the net as well, besides a prolific defender. Massie is ready to guide Manvel for the next three years after registering 1,257 assists (8.9 per set), 56 aces and 273 digs in 2021.
Mary Katherine Preston – Middle Blocker – Club: Houston Juniors – 2022
Mary Katherine ‘MK’ Preston is a prototypical middle blocker who gives her team a solid presence at the net and excellent production with kills and blocks. Standing at 6’2”, she’s very long and athletic and uses her body extremely well to perform. She can hit the ball hard and straight down when fed with a good set and plays with a lot of aggressiveness, potentially intimidating opponents across the net. Her blocking is probably her main asset as Preston not only moves well at the net but also user her long arms to put pressure on opposing hitters. Those are normally followed by fiery stare downs across the net. She ended her high school career with 349 kills and a team-high 164 blocks.