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Michael Faulkner (11) of St. Michael's Academy/Austin Juniors is one of four players named the All-Texas Team for the second year in a row.

The 2003 All-Texas Team

August 15 – So if you we’re going to put together a team to represent the state of Texas against the best the rest of the country could throw at us, who would you have on it?

That was the question we posed to a select group of college and club coaches, recruiters, members of the media and observers of junior volleyball across the country who we felt had a good handle on the state’s overall talent. And as was the case last year, our second annual LoneStarVolleyball.com All-Texas Team is one we are confident would match up with any teams that California, Florida, Illinois and other states could put together.

Interestingly enough, most of the selections were very clear favorites of the participants although there were some very tough decisions that had to be made in filling out the final spots on both the All-Texas and the Honorable Mention squads.

In fact, when looking at the Honorable Mention team and the Players to Watch it is obvious just how deep the talent level in the Lone Star State has become, especially among the young players. As one D1 coach remarked, “so many nice players in the next couple of years!”

You’ll notice a couple of changes in this year’s list. Originally we asked the participants to select three middles, three setters, five outsides. We also asked that they select a DS/libero, because of the increasing importance of that position. Many of the responses, however, were along the lines of one club representative who said, “here’s how I would put it together if it was my team” and she proceeded to provide a different combination or positions. Another trend is the increasing number of athletes able to play multiple positions at an elite level.

You’ll also notice that the All-Texas Team has a DS/libero while the Honorable Mention team does not. While there was a clear favorite for this position, many voters said that rather than select a true DS they would convert a non-defensive specialist to the position as needed. And those choices were across the board.

Another interesting point is that all of the underclassmen named to last year’s squad were repeat selections this year.

This year’s team includes nine seniors, two juniors and a sophomore. Eleven of the 12 players are at least 5’10" and seven are 6’0” or over. We’re also happy to say that even though some of the seniors will be heading to places like Hawaii, Cal, North Carolina and Wake Forest, half of the seniors who have made commitments are staying in state and playing for Texas, A&M, Tech and Baylor.

Obviously we realize that selecting an All-Texas Team is going to cause controversy. Everyone who is passionate about the sport has their favorite players and, as you will no doubt soon read in the chat rooms, their not-so-favorites.

So we’ll repeat what we said last year. As the popularity of the sport increases, more and more athletes are selecting volleyball over basketball and other sports. And thanks to the proliferation of clubs across the state, the skill level is dramatically increasing. Many of the girls in the Honorable Mention and Players To Watch categories were given careful consideration. But the final decisions have been made and here is a look at the second annual LoneStarVolleyball.com 2003-2004 All-Texas Team.

THE MIDDLES

As could be expected, you have to be big and strong if you want to make the team at this position. Ellen Orchard, the 6’2” Cy Springs star heading to Cal, and North Carolina-bound Brittany Randel, who returns to the team for a second year, were the top choices. Ellen, class president since her freshman year, is an intimidating middle. One coach was impressed that she seems to love the net and never backs down from a block. Randel is a fluid middle who continues to fine-tune her game and has become near unstoppable on the slide. Nickie Thomas, the 6’3” Westwood leader heading to Hawaii, “is unique and not just because of her height,” said one coach who has worked with her. “She’s a perfectionist with an excellent work ethic and she pushes others to be better.” A year ago, 6’5” Ruth Ann Feist of Baytown Christian was a skinny, awkward sophomore who attracted attention because of her height. By the end of this past club season, however, she was taking on the top middles in the nation. “She improved immensely this year,” said one voter. “She played the game at a pace that was too fast for her in the beginning of the club season, but she caught up quickly. If she continues (to improve at this rate) she could easily be one of the best middles coming out of her class.”

THE OUTSIDES

You want power from your outsides? We deliver. As with the middles, there were clear favorites. Michael Faulkner, the 5'11" hammer from St. Michael's Academy/Austin Juniors, and Lindsey Louis, last year’s 5-A state tournament MVP who delivers the heat for Austin Westlake/Austin Juniors, were near unanimous selections. Faulkner, a member of last year’s All-Texas Team, is a veteran of several High Performance camps and a three-time TAPPS all-state. “Without question one of the best outsides,” said one coach. “Stud player for sure,” said another. Louis, of course, is equally dominating and anyone who saw her performance at the state tournament knows that she is capable of taking over a match when necessary. Kyna Washington, a powerful 5'10" junior from Houston Westfield/Texas Tornados, was another clear favorite although almost all the participants moved her from middle to outside. “Breath-taking athleticism,” said one coach. With her experience in the middle she has the ability to run quick sets and can hit over the majority of opposites she will face. The baby of the All-Texas Team is sophomore Mary Batis, the 5'11" San Antonio Clark/Alamo star who was a key member of the Alamo 15 national championship team. Batis burst onto the scene last year when she was named the #1 performer at the USA Volleyball High Performance Camp in Colorado Springs and in August was named all-tournament at the Duncanville Tournament of Champions as a freshman. The honors poured in from there and by the end of the season had been named one of the nation’s top 40 freshmen. As a freshman, she led one of the state’s top teams in kills and blocks and was second in digs and aces. Of San Antonio’s three Super Sophs, which includes Samantha Dabbs and Jenny Banse, Batis is considered to have the most developed overall game at this point.

THE SETTERS

You would expect a state the size of Texas to be loaded with middles and outsides, but the Lone Star State really shines when it comes to setting. Even the Honorable Mention team is loaded with some of the nation’s best. Two of last year’s All-Texas setters, Stratford’s Michelle Moriarty and Westlake’s Meghan Kainz, are back. Moriarty, who has always played with and against older players in club, is a smart, natural leader who was voted by her teammates to be captain of the youth national team competing in Poland. At 5’10”, she spent the past year working to improve her blocking ability. Kainz, of course, is a prototype of the new breed of setter – tall, strong and athletic. She’s a passionate player who has that rare ability to always make the right decisions in crucial situations as she proved last year in San Marcos. The other setter on the team also stands 6’0.” Mayde Creek’s Amanda Modglin, heading to Baylor, is an all-around athlete. Modglin has experience at middle and outside which makes her a multi-threat and gives her coaches flexibility to move her around as needed. “A leader on and off the court.,” says a coach. “Very patient.” That will be important on this year’s young Mayde Creek team.

DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST

This selection wasn’t even close. Jena Pierson was the clear choice, even though a couple of players have already given verbal commitments to major colleges where they will be turned into defensive specialists. Jena, who plays for Austin Juniors, transferred from Round Rock to San Antonio Madison this fall where coach Renata Goebel says she also plans to use the star defender as an outside. For Round Rock coach Diane Watson, who has state title aspirations for her team, the loss was a tough one. “It hurts,” said Watson. “I doubt there is another player in the state who is more competitive than she is. She wants to win more than anything in the world.”

2003-2004 ALL-TEXAS TEAM

NA = not applicable