VYPE
Congratulations to the incredible players on this list.
Originally appeared on VYPE
The goal is very simple: Recognize the best public high school volleyball players in the state of Texas.
As I've said many times before, Texas has the best collection of volleyball players in the United States (if not the world).
Consider there are approximately 1,200 public high school volleyball teams. If you figure an average of nine players per team (and that's a conservative number), that's about 11,000 players to consider for our 2nd Annual VYPE All-State Awards.
But here they are – we believe these are the best in a state full of incredible volleyball talent.
As I indicated for my own Dazzling Dozen, these selections, too, are as politics-free as we could make them. There's no "quota" of teams, players or regions to be represented; there's no undue influence from one team, area or organization.
I did consult a 10-person committee of coaches from across the state for their thoughts on these selections. We all had one goal in mind; make sure we recognize the players who deserve such recognition. Period. I also worked with Josh Koch of our own VYPE Media as well as Butch Hart, the Guru of Texas high school volleyball and Media Director of the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
As I've learned from my coaching friends, coaches are always the first to be approached with questions (and complaints) about any/all postseason awards. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions with these awards, please contact me directly: e-mail me, chuck.licata@vypemedia.com or hit me up via Direct Message on Twitter (@kmacchuck).
Unfortunately, I only received a couple e-mails for nominations for Class 4A to 1A (we'll work to continue growing that moving forward). Thus, we used the Texas Girls Coaches Association State Awards for our Honorable Mention lists in those classes; I added a few players I saw this season.
Congratulations to the incredible players on this list. And, congrats to all 2019-20 Texas high school volleyball players, coaches, teams and communities for an outstanding season of volleyball!
Find the list here
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Christian Walker homered in a three-run second, Ryan Gusto pitched well into the sixth and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Wednesday night to sweep the three-game series.
CHRISTIAN SKYWALKER. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/EZxbda3HT3
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 24, 2025
Walker led off the second with a home run to left off Bowden Francis (2-3), Yainer Diaz tripled and scored on Zach Dezenzo's RBI single and Yordan Alvarez capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
Gusto (3-1) allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Gusto has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his three starts this season.
Bryan King pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Bryan Abreu threw a scoreless eighth.
George Springer walked, and Ernie Clement doubled with one out in the ninth, but Josh Hader struck out Alejandro Kirk and induced a flyout by Myles Straw for his seventh save.
Houston has won five of its last six.
Springer hit an RBI double in the fourth for the Blue Jays. They have lost five straight games.
Francis surrendered three runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his five starts.
Key moment
Hader striking out Kirk and getting Straw to flyout to center to end it.
Key stat
The Astros swept the Blue Jays for the first time since they swept a four-game series in Houston on May 14-17, 2015.
Final Thoughts
Julia Morales caught up with Walker after the game.
#Astros beat the Blue Jays 3-1
Christian Walker 2-4, HR & spoke with @JuliaMorales after the @astros WIN#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/MyRYdVwidH
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) April 24, 2025
Up next
Houston starts a three-game series Friday at Kansas City, with RHP Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 3.91 ERA) starting the opener. Toronto RHP José Berríos (1-1, 5.02) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Yankees.
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