2012 Volleyball Preview: Top 10 Players to Watch

East Texas lost a lot of volleyball talent from last year's senior class. Well-known standouts such as Abbey Bybel, the White Oak star who signed with SMU, and Hallsville's Darby Graff, a Texas A&M signee, won't be around for the 2012 volleyball season.

But the region isn't lacking in quality returning players. The following list takes a look at some of the region's best volleyball players who should have huge seasons in 2012, such as Spring Hill's Arkansas-bound middle blocker Savannah Voelzke and Tyler All Saints' Katrina Kastmo.

Halee Brewer, Soph., MB, Longview

2011 stats: 239 kills, 81 blocks, 35 digs; burst onto the scene as a freshman to earn first-team all-district recognition.

Katrina Kastmo, Sr., MB, All Saints

2011 stats: 513 kills, 124 blocks; led the Lady Trojans to a 22-11 mark and the TAPPS Class 4A regional round.

Mallory Kuechle, Sr., OH, Tyler Lee

2011 stats: 382 kills, 329 digs; big junior season led to a 25-16 record and Class 5A Region II bi-district appearance for Lee.

Abby Mackey, Sr., OH, Overton

2011 stats: 626 kills, 332 digs, 87 aces, 90.4 service percentage; the district MVP led Overton to the Class A Region III quarterfinal round.

Fulani Petties, Sr., OH, Whitehouse

2011 stats: 205 kills; had a breakout junior season in helping Whitehouse to a 26-13 record and Class 4A Region II area appearance.

Courtney Rogers, Sr., OH, New Diana

2011 stats: 490 kills, 250 digs, 154, aces, 332 service points, 26 blocks; led New Diana to a 35-10 record as the Lady Eagles reached the Class 2A Region III championship match.

Emily Shelton, Sr., Setter, Pine Tree

2011 stats: 359 assists; shared setting duties with former PT standout Lauren Cude (North Central Texas College signee) as the Lady Pirates went 37-5 and reached the Class 4A Region II area round.

Chesney Spears, Jr., Setter, Elysian Fields

2011 stats: 675 assists, 98 kills, 104 digs, 40 aces; earned district MVP honors in leading Elysian Fields to the Class 2A Region III bi-district round.

Dorothy Swanson, Sr., MB, White Oak

2011 stats: 456 kills, 295 digs, 99 aces, 84 blocks; helped White Oak to a 42-4 record and its third consecutive Class 2A state tournament appearance.

Savannah Voelzke, Sr., MB/OH, Spring Hill

2011 stats: 667 kills, 290 digs, 123 blocks, 47 aces;  led Spring Hill to a 33-9 record and the Lady Panthers’ second consecutive Class 3A Region II tournament. Voelzke is committed to play at Arkansas after high school.

20 more to keep an eye on ...

Cari Aguilera, Jr., Athens
Morgan Baldwin, Sr., White Oak
Iesha Bryant, Jr., MB/OH, Carthage
Savannah Cantrell, Sr., Lindale
Aly Curtis, Sr., Spring Hill
Meredith Daly, Sr., Bullard
Tiarra Davis, Sr., OH, Henderson - 2011 stats: 315 kills, 207 assists, 114 digs, 73 blocks, 92.4 service percentage
Danielle Ford, Jr., Setter, Chapel Hill
Zhanelle Geathers, Jr., OH/MB, Lindale
Sky Holmes, Soph., MB/OH, Pine Tree
Shawnta Knox, Sr., Cayuga
Nathalia Lomax, Sr., Setter, Hallsville - 2011 stats: 1,612 assists, 222 digs, 41 aces, 20 blocks
Rilee Miller, Sr., Grace Community
A’Kia Mumphrey, Sr., Setter, Longview
Charity Page, Sr., OH, Nacogdoches
Keirsten Seahorn, Jr., OH, Harmony - 2011 stats: 289 kills, 135 digs, 22 blocks, 229 service points
Sabrah Shipman, Jr., Big Sandy
Kaylah Starling, Jr., MB, Tatum - 2011 stats: 165 kills, 71 blocks, 8 digs, 5 assists
Schuyler Wages, Soph., OH, Chapel Hill
Maddie Wood, Sr., Mineola