Klein Oak volleyball sits at No. 2 in the latest VYPE Houston Class 6A rankings at 35-4 overall and 8-1 in District 15-6A.

The Panthers, who were listed at No. 17 in VYPE's preseason poll, have been one of the Houston area's biggest risers. VYPE's Power Grid rankings, published Sunday, Sept. 27, show Klein Oak trailing only Tomball in the 6A field.

Head coach Bill Jenkins' squad has won 35 of 39 matches. The Panthers' lone district loss came in a five-set match against Tomball. VYPE Houston reported the final score as Tomball 3, Klein Oak 2, with Klein Oak at 32-4 at the time. Since then, Klein Oak has won three straight district matches to reach 8-1.

Tomball holds the No. 1 spot at 24-6 overall and 7-2 in District 15-6A, though the Cougars stumbled with losses to Tomball Memorial and Magnolia. VYPE's Matthew Ogle wrote that "their recent response will go a long way toward determining whether those losses prove to be an anomaly or a bad omen."

In an August feature naming the Panthers its Whataburger Team of the Week, VYPE highlighted senior hitter Camille Csernik, a Miami commit who earned District 15-6A Hitter of the Year honors last season. At that point, Csernik was approaching 250 kills with the team at 21-2. Senior setter Lily Singletary had 316 assists, freshman setter Lillie French had 223 assists, and sophomore libero Ava Edmonds led the team in digs with 227 and serve receptions with 295.

Klein Oak's record has climbed from 21-2 in late August to 30-3 at the start of district play to 35-4 entering the final weeks of the regular season.

The district title race now hinges on one date. Klein Oak and Tomball meet again Friday, Oct. 16, in a rematch that could reshape the 15-6A standings. Tomball Memorial, ranked No. 13 in the VYPE poll at 22-12 and 7-2 in district, adds a third contender to the mix.

Klein Oak's next marquee test is that Tomball rematch.