The 2023 season marked a high point in the recent history of the Houston High School volleyball team.
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Julia Sloan, the Lady Tigers finished with a 26-8-1 record and won the Class 2 District 8 championship, handily defeating county rival Licking 3-1 in the title game.
As Sloan enters her second season at Houston, her squad will feature several familiar faces in key roles. The Lady Tigers’ roster features three seniors, including setter and outside hitter Morgan McKinney (who recorded 492 assists last season and earned All-District second team honors), libero Makinley Aaron (who amassed 396 digs last year and was named to the All-District first team) and defensive specialist Elysia Graciano (who is among the school’s top female performers in the weight room). The trio will be joined by several juniors who started games last year, including setter and outside hitter Kayla Wagner (who made the All-District first team in 2023 and was a statistical leader for Houston in 2023 with 446 assists, 121 kills and 206 digs), middle hitter Kynlee Weaver (who had 108 kills and 27 blocks last year) and defensive specialist Gracyn McNiell (who played significant minutes in 2023 and will again this season).
Other juniors are Carly Cummins-Drake, Hannah Ennis and Annabelle Westbrook, while the lone underclassman on the varsity squad is athletic sophomore middle hitter Summer Seago.
“I think we have a great group of hard-working girls,” Sloan said. “They are close knit and just great kids. I’m hoping my returners that were part of our district championship last year will lead with their experience.”
Sloan said her players’ relentless work ethic should pay off this year.
“They have that grit factor and aren’t going to let anyone outwork them,” she said.
Lacking the size of many opponents, the Lady Tigers will hope to score frequently by keeping rallies alive.
“We’re not tall this season,” Sloan said, “so we will have to play great defense and get lots of touches on balls.”
Jodi Tottingham will once again be Sloan’s assistant coach.
The Lady Tigers hosted a preseason jamboree last Thursday (including Cabool and Willow Springs) and begin the 2024 campaign this week with a home games Thursday against Seymour and Friday against Bakersfield. Houston will then play three straight games against county rivals, hosting Summersville on Tuesday (Sept. 10) and traveling to Licking Sept. 12 and Plato Sept. 17.
The HHS volleyball program also includes four sophomores and seven freshmen. Sloan said she likes many aspects of the overall state of the sport in Houston.
“I’m very hopeful,” she said. “I think we’re starting to build a great foundation and culture. We have aligned from 7th-grade up, and we are all on the same page – along with summer weights and getting strong mentally and physically in the offseason.
“We just need to continue to keep growing.”
2024 HHS VOLLEYBALL ROSTER
Jersey no., name, grade
VARSITY
3. Kynlee Weaver, jr.
8. Hannah Ennis, jr.
9. Summer Seago, soph.
10. Carly Cummins-Drake, jr.
12. Elysia Graciano, sr.
17. Gracyn McNiell, jr.
23. Morgan McKinney, sr.
25. Makinley Aaron, sr.
26. Kayla Wagner, jr.
30. Annabelle Westbrook, jr.
JUNIOR VARSITY
1. Marie Palmer, fr.
2. Isis Crawford, fr.
3. Adyson Dailing, soph.
4. Rebekah McGiboney, fr.
5. Austin Jones, fr.
13. Hally Scheets, soph.
16. Olivia Ice, soph.
19. Arianna Flores, soph.
28. Makalah Hood, fr.
30. Claire Benoist, fr.
Head coach: Julia Sloan
Assistant coach: Jodi Tottingham
SCHEDULE
Sept. 5: Seymour, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV)
Sept. 6: Bakersfield, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV)
Sept. 7: Houston JV, C-Team Tournament, TBA
Sept. 10: Summersville, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV)
Sept. 12: Licking, 5 p.m. (V, JV, Fr.)
Sept. 17: Plato, 5 p.m. (V, JV, Fr.)
Sept. 19: Willow Springs, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV)
Sept. 21: Cabool Invitational Tournament, TBA (V)
Sept. 24: Salem, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV)
Sept. 26: Mountain Grove, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV)
Sept. 30: Eminence, 5:30 p.m. (V)
Oct. 1: Thayer, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV) – PINK OUT
Oct. 3: Liberty, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV) – Officials Night
Oct. 5: Houston Tournament, TBA (V)
Oct. 7: Lesterville, 5:30 p.m. (V)
Oct. 8: Gainesville, 5 p.m. (V, JV) – Teacher Night
Oct. 10: Bourbon, 5 p.m. (V, JV)
Oct. 12: Pleasant Hope Tournament, TBA (V)
Oct. 14: Dixon, 5 p.m. (V, JV)
Oct. 15: Cabool, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV) – Senior Night
Oct. 17: Ava, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV)
Oct. 18: Conway, 5:30 p.m. (V, JV)
*Home games in bold
