Ryan Mitchell has won 10 state titles, but Prestonwood's 2026 squad may be his best yet

Four years later, Mitchell coached a Plano Prestonwood Christian team that finished No. 3 in the MaxPreps national rankings after winning a third consecutive TAPPS 6A state title. That roster was headlined by Texas signee Macaria Spears, a two-time Gatorade Texas Volleyball Player of the Year and the MaxPreps National Player of the Year. Mitchell knows a great team when he sees one, having won 10 state titles during his time at Lovejoy and Prestonwood, including five in a row at Lovejoy from 2008 to 2012. Those early Lovejoy state championship teams included Andie Malloy and Ebony Nwanebu, who both went on to play professionally overseas. But this year, thanks in part to the addition of two high-profile transfers at Prestonwood, Mitchell will have one of the best teams he has ever coached. Is it the absolute best? That remains to be seen. “It’s probably too early to be making bold predictions yet,” Mitchell said. “I’ve had so many good teams over the years, it’s hard to rank the best team.” As the Texas high school volleyball season prepares to start, Prestonwood might have the best team in the state, regardless of whether it’s a public or private school. No disrespect to back-to-back UIL state champion Trophy Club Byron Nelson, which has finished No. 1 in the MaxPreps national rankings two years in a row while winning its last 78 matches, but Prestonwood might be better in 2026. Prestonwood’s roster features six players who have committed to play college volleyball after adding transfers Taylor Johnson from Hebron and Gracie White from Plano West. Johnson, who is committed to SMU, has enrolled at Prestonwood but is waiting on her paperwork to be approved. Johnson won’t be able to join her new team until later this month, as she is currently playing with USA Volleyball’s under-17 national team in the FIVB Girls U17 World Championship in Santiago, Chile. Prestonwood has three players ranked by Prep Dig among the top 60 players in the nation. Johnson is No. 11 in the Class of 2028, LSU pledge Nyla Livings is No. 48 in the Class of 2027, and White, committed to Rice, is No. 60 in the Class of 2028. Three other players have committed to colleges — Naomi Livings (LSU), Elizabeth Kowalchyk (Yale) and Anya Baklenko (Loyola Marymount). Prestonwood also had four players win club national titles this summer — Nyla and Naomi Livings with Texas Advantage Volleyball’s U17 team and Evann Beville and Hayden Thomas with TAV’s U16 team. “We are going to be really big and physical,” Mitchell said. “We’re going to cause problems for a lot of teams. I’m really excited to get everyone in the gym at the same time and kind of see where we’re at.” Prestonwood was upset by Bishop Lynch in the TAPPS 6A state quarterfinals last season, but it was dealing with an injury-depleted lineup. Naomi Livings missed the entire season, and Beville missed the second half of the year. “We were really young last year, and just seeing everybody coming back more mature, more polished in their game, with a lot more swings and blocks and game experience under their belt, we look like a different group as far as from a maturity standpoint,” Mitchell said.

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RYAN MITCHELL HAS WON 10 STATE TITLES, BUT PRESTONWOOD'S 2026 SQUAD MAY BE HIS BEST YET

GREG RIDDLE

Dallas Morning News | 8/19/2026