Texas Elite U15 volleyball players (pictured) are geared up to start a new season as a travel team. The 13 year olds, who attend Memorial Middle School and Spring Branch Middle School, will play up in an older age group for the second year in a row. Several of the girls have played together for five years, and the team attended the Texas A&M volleyball camp together last summer. Coached by Christy Rees and Bobbi Evans, each of the players is also on her school A-team. They change from teammates to rivals when MMS and SBMS play against each other. Coach Rees attended last season’s competitive game between the schools, and did a pretty good job of staying neutral. The players are (top row, from left) Claire Justice, Madeleine Dukes, Lindy Haas, Alexandra Pappas, Camille Smith, Vicky Chiravanich, Lizzie Gissel and Jada Gibson; (bottom row, from left) Ainsley Kurtz and Ruby Kate Singletary.

Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.