2021 High Flyin’ Houston Area Attackers

<p>Texas is known as the Lone Star State.  However, on the volleyball scene, there are many stars to check out.   Here are some Houston area ballers that are ready for the season to get back under way so they can shine even brighter.  A good college coach friend of mine always tells me that volleyball is played on two levels.  One is on the low to the floor and the other is high above the net.  All of these young ladies can absolutely FLY when attacking the ball.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_88816" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo Credit: Houston Stellar[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="87391" first="Mia" last="Johnson"] [2021] 5-11 Outside (HS: Clear Falls/Club: Houston Stellar/ Verbal: Hawaii)</p> <p>Miss Johnson is never rushed on the court.  She plays at her own pace.  She looks so poised on the court with her high school team.  Mia loads her legs on her approach so well that she is able to hang in the air for a while which helps her attacking game.  It’s a very climactic attack.  It starts off at a slower pace, it then gathers pace with her jump and then an explosive crescendo with a brutal assault by her arm swing. It truly is like a symphony watching her hit the volleyball.  They set her everywhere front row and back row.  Wouldn’t you?  Just watch her swing once and you will see why she helped lead her Houston Stellar club team to win the USA National Championship in the USA division in 2019.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_88817" align="alignleft" width="228"] Photo Credit: SportsRecruits - AVA[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="87431" first="Teresa" last="Garza"] [2021] 6-1 Outside (HS: Santa Fe/Club: Absolute Volleyball Academy/Verbal: Wyoming)</p> <p>This high flying outside from AVA in Southeast Houston can absolutely jump out of the gym.  She is a member of the ten-foot vertical club.  She takes one of the meanest, most aggressive loads I have seen in a while during her approach to the ball.  AVA will set her front in multiple locations and she is pretty efficient with her scoring ability.  I foresee her playing pretty quickly at Wyoming when she gets there in a few years.  They will likely utilize her just as AVA does hitting out of the back row also.  This kid is going to have one heck of a senior season at Santa Fe.  We can’t wait to watch how she adds to her game.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_88818" align="alignright" width="230"] Photo Credit: SportsRecruits - AVA[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="87432" first="Rachel" last="Brown"] [2021] 6-0 Middle (HS: Clear Falls/Club: Absolute Volleyball Academy/Verbal: Tulsa)</p> <p>Rachel is another High Flier from AVA.  Playing primarily out of the middle she patrols the net with ease.  “Happy Birthdays” (aka overpasses) near her zone disappear with quickness as she demolishes them to the ground.  Her one foot take-offs behind the setter seem almost as if she was born to run them.  She is a natural athlete and will do very well at Tulsa, where she committed to play college volleyball after she graduates.  She possesses great length in her arms which help her defensive game stifle opponents.  She has a bright future ahead of her.  She has gotten some amazing training at AVA from directors Katy Garza (former University of Texas great) and Jerry Lynch.  They will for sure make sure that she is college ready with one more year under their tutelage.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_88819" align="alignleft" width="234"] Photo Credit: SportsRecruits - Houston Juniors[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="87441" first="Alexia" last="Jones"] [2021] 5-10 Outside (HS: Dawson/Club: Houston Juniors/Verbal: Houston Baptist University)</p> <p>Houston Juniors is known for having athletic high flying outside hitters.  Miss Jones is no exception to this rule.  She is quick off of the ground and throttles the ball with authority.  She is a bit on the smaller side but don’t let that fool you because she will make you pay big-time.  It’s a joy to watch her flare out of serve-receive to her touch point and then attack.  It is very fluid movement on the court.  Alexia plays for a great high school team in Dawson and will have a great senior season with them. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>There are many more high fliers to come.  Stay tuned for more articles on your favorite athletes.  If you have anyone you think we should watch out for, please shoot me an email with some info at nov8vb@yahoo.com</p>