A historical volleyball season in Killeen ISD wrapped up last week but not before three teams advanced to the playoffs –– one as a district champion –– and two won at least one postseason match.
Now, add to it four district superlatives, including an MVP and coach of the year, and 10 first-team honorees.
All-District 16-5A and 12-6A awards were announced recently and, no surprise, KISD teams were well-represented after votes from the district coaches were tabulated.
Chaparral went undefeated in 16-5A to clinch the program’s first league championship, then the Lady Bobcats advanced three rounds into the Class 5A Division I playoffs.
Their efforts, of course, didn’t go unnoticed.
Senior Mikayla Gray, who last week signed to play at Cornell, was voted the district’s most valuable player –– her third straight superlative. As a sophomore, she was the newcomer of the year and was the utility player of the year as a junior.
Gray’s teammate, libero Alondra Rosario, earned the defensive player of year while Chaparral head coach Sarah Neal, who’s led the Lady Bobcats into the playoffs each of their first three seasons, claimed the coach of the year award.
Rounding out a full haul of superlatives, Ellison’s Ja’Lya Swiney was named the co-offensive player of the year with Lake Belton’s Kaitlyn Hutchins.
First-team accolades for Chaparral included Bailey Thompson, Aryanna Gonzalez, Kemani Washington and Jeish Reyes. For Ellison they were Aliyah Bowman and Bryanna Bowman.
In 12-6A, Harker Heights surged into third place to claim its first postseason berth since 2020. The Lady Knights didn’t stop there and captured the program’s first playoff win.
Key seniors Amaya Rich and Jessilix Acevedo Lebron garnered first-team recognition for the Lady Knights. Also landing on the first team in 12-6A were Shoemaker’s Kadence Taylor and Killeen’s Dianelis Williams.
More photos from throughout the volleyball season can be found here.
The full all-district teams are below.
District 16-5A
MVP: Mikayla Gray, Chaparral
Co-offensive players of the year: Ja’Lya Swiney, Ellison; Kaitlyn Hutchins, Lake Belton
Defensive player of the year: Alondra Rosario, Chaparral
Most valuable setter: Madison Bingham, Lake Belton
Most valuable blocker: Kamari Greenleaf, Waco University
Most valuable utility player: Maceyn Doskocil, Belton
Co-newcomers of the year: Ava Wood, Lake Belton; Malu Pula, Belton
Coach of the year: Sarah Neal, Chaparral
First Team
Chaparral: Bailey Thompson, Aryanna Gonzalez, Kemani Washington, Jeish Reyes
Ellison: Aliyah Bowman, Bryanna Bowman
Belton: Miley Davila, Kaitlyn McCracken
Lake Belton: Gabby Jones, Hanna Ward, Keileigh Kruger
University: Chloe McCutcheon
Waco: Tiara Hill
Second Team
Chaparral: Mikayla Cromwell, Deliana Iosefo
Ellison: Chanelle Cancel, Maribel Ruiz
Belton: CJ Stites, Landry Duggan
Lake Belton: Natalie Maldonado, Mykenna Johnston
University: Jasmin Tapia, Janelis Rubio
Waco: Annie Uecker, Keely Turnbull
Honorable Mention
Chaparral: Madison Edwards, Da’Nieyah Adkinson
Ellison: Mayraliz Rivera-Cosme, Aaliyah Lee, Kiara Knight-Thompson, Lillian Swiney
Belton: Hadley Dollar, Lyza LeBlanc, Kelsey Murrow, Avelle Bonfoh, Bella Pula, Allie Goodnight, Marissa Hinojos
Lake Belton: Morgan Kukulski, Hannah Kasner, Thia Allison, Nia Grayson, Abbi Jones
University: Dameris Griggs, Aliveyah Thomas
Waco: Tesharme Bell, Jackie Trevino, Kamauri Jones, Leslie Segura
Academic All-District
Chaparral: Alondra Rosario, Jeish Reyes, Bailey Thompson, Aryanna Gonzalez, Deliana Iosefo, Madison Edwards, Giomarlie Cruz, Mikayla Gray, Madeline Dano, Da’Nieyah Adkinson, Mikayla Cromwell
Ellison: Bryanna Bowman, Chanelle Cancel, Daniela Carrion, Lyric Harris, Ja’Lya Swiney, Lillian Swiney-Malave, Maribel Ruiz
District 12-6A
MVP: Kenna McKenzie, Waco Midway
Hitter of the year: Sadie McKee, Copperas Cove
Setter of the year: Annalysia Rios, Copperas Cove
Defensive player of the year: Jade Washington, Midway
Blocker of the year: Chloe Tuiasosopo, Copperas Cove
Co-newcomers of the year: McLaine Harris, Midway; Kaitlyn Urquidez, Copperas Cove
Coach of the year: Ryan Porter, Midway
First Team
Harker Heights: Amaya Rich, Jessilix Acevedo Lebron
Killeen: Dianelis Williams
Shoemaker: Kadence Taylor
Bryan: Allison Warden, Zamia Turner
Copperas Cove: Ailene Rodarte, Jaica Donaldson, Taylor Wright
Midway: Brooke Rimlinger, Maria Herron, Hailee Perry
Temple: Kendall Tate
Second Team
Harker Heights: Mileyana Hopkins, Nasya McGinnis
Killeen: Alicia Gomez
Shoemaker: Bre’Elle Freeman
Bryan: Gabrielle Nunn, Kyndahl Boatcallie
Copperas Cove: Jolina Toala, Bridgette Simpson, Taylor Steele
Midway: Marcala McCune, Piper Starling, Mercy Odedeji
Temple: Dawn Smith
Honorable Mention
Harker Heights: Sanau Falaniko, Zariah Pena
Killeen: Cadens White, QuDeja Taplin
Shoemaker: Genesis O’Neal-Soto, Kelis Burgess
Academic All-District
Harker Heights: Nasya McGinnis, Jessilix Acevedo Lebron, Aaliyah Dixon, Ezra Leifeste, Zariah Pena, Amaya Rich, Annabelle Boyes, LaDaejah Edwards, Tiarra Edwards
Killeen: Teyana Allen, Mackenna Dempsey, Alicia Gomez, Dianellis Williams, Yanelis Williams, Olivia Harris, Cadens White, Precious Tauiliili, QuDeja Taplin
Shoemaker: Anya Fishburne, Genesis O’Neal-Soto, Jasmil Nash, Kelis Burgess, Alaya Exford, Bre’Elle Freeman, Kadence Taylor, Janeen Lashley-Hill, Sa’Myah Braswell-Ezell, Danae Dawson, Nathaliah Nanai, Riley Crist
