In their final high school volleyball appearance, seniors Davyn Johnson and Amber Jenkins proudly represented Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy in Houston ISD’s All-Star game, capping their athletic journeys at a school where 100% of graduates are college-bound.
But for these two standout student-athletes, the game marked not an ending, but the beginning of new paths.
Last season, Johnson earned honorable mention on the 2024–2025 Texas High School Coaches Association Academic All-State Team. She served as the 2024 team captain, was named Co-Player of the Year and received First Team All-District honors as a defensive specialist. Johnson also earned the Outstanding Hitter Award at the 2025 HISD All-Star Volleyball Game.
Jenkins was a second-team nominee for the 2024–2025 THSCA Academic All-State honors and also served as the 2024 team captain. She was recognized by the Texas High School Education Foundation and earned first-team All-District 21- 4A honors from HISD.
“Davyn and Amber brought the leadership necessary to lead our team to another district championship,” said Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy head volleyball coach Tala’Shandria Allen. “They kept the team together and brought a fresh and fun outlook to the program that will be carried on by the returning players.”
Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy (YWCPA), an all-girls STEM-focused school in Houston’s Third Ward, has only had a varsity volleyball team for five years. Yet, Johnson and Jenkins have already left their mark.
While Jenkins has decided to focus first on her academics with the possibility of walking onto the team in college, Johnson has made this season by becoming the first student-athlete from YWCPA to commit to playing sports at the collegiate level. She will attend Huston-Tillotson University, a historically Black university in Austin, to study nursing with hopes of becoming a labor and delivery nurse.
“I have worked so hard to show the other athletes at Y-Dub that it is possible to excel athletically and academically. I want to see the school grow outside of academics and be a role model for the girls who are just as passionate about their sports as I am about volleyball.”
Davyn Johnson
Johnson, who holds a weighted GPA of 4.3 and an unweighted GPA of 3.65, chose Huston-Tillotson for its strong nursing program, supportive team environment and campus culture. Though initially unsure about attending an HBCU, she changed her mind after visiting the campus.
“Although the school that I currently attend is predominantly Black and Hispanic, I feared being boxed in by cultural expectations and being unable to build my cross-cultural communication skills,” said Johnson. “But once I experienced Huston-Tillotson’s campus and culture for myself, I knew that was the place I wanted to spend the next four years.”
Jenkins will take a different path, focusing on her academics at Texas Woman’s University, where she will pursue a degree in nursing with the goal of becoming a forensic nurse. She was inspired by her experience at a CompassRN Nursing Camp and has a deep concern for the lack of advocacy for domestic and sexual assault victims.
“Becoming aware of the lack of advocacy for domestic and sexual assault victims in our country is something that stuck with me,” said Jenkins. “Instead of just looking past this issue, I chose to look deeper into the profession.”
With a weighted GPA of 4.629 and an unweighted GPA of 3.96, Jenkins chose Texas Woman’s University for its strong NCLEX passage rate, its proximity to home and the scholarships she received, including the BoldlyGo! and Outstanding New Student Scholarships.
Together, Jenkins and Johnson represent the future of YWCPA—students who defy expectations, challenge boundaries and redefine what success looks like on and off the court. Their legacy will echo not only in the halls of YWCPA but also in hospitals, communities and courtrooms where they will one day serve as advocates, caregivers and leaders.
“People of color can often be underserved, so I also want to ensure that I work in an environment where my presence will make a difference for people who look like me,” said Johnson.
About Davyn Johnson:
Class: 2025
IG: @d.avynnnn
Twitter: @davyn_johnson
Position: (For school) 6 rotation outside hitter. (For club) Defensive Specialist (DS)/Libero (L).
Height & weight: 5-feet-6, 125 pounds
Status: Committed to Huston-Tillotson University
Favorite artists: Drake
Favorite subject: English
Shout-outs: Mom, Ms. Kandie and my amazing coaches!
About Amber Jenkins:
Class: 2025
IG: @amb3r.r3na3
Position: Outside hitter
Height & weight: 5-feet-6, 146 pounds
Status: Will attend Texas Woman’s University
Favorite artists: Rod Wave
Favorite subject: Statistics
Shout-outs: Family, friends, YWCPA Volleyball Team
