18s GJNC Preview: AVA TX 18 Adidas

The most important tournament of the year for the class of 2021 players is just in front of us as the 2021 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship is set to happen from April 23-25 in Columbus, Ohio, and as many as 280 teams from the entire country are expected to compete in the five divisions. Texas will, of course, be represented in the event and we will take the time between now and the start of the tournament in Ohio to present the team what will carry the Lone Star State flag in Ohio, analyzing their campaigns in the club season so far and highlighting their most important players. The AVA TX 18 Adidas is one of the five teams that qualified to represent Texas in Columbus in the 18 USA Division and here's our preview: Part of the Absolute Volleyball Academy in Webster, southeast of Houston, AVA TX 18 Adidas has a true legend of the sport ahead of the team in head coach Marco Meoni, a two-time Olympic medalist with Italy. The team has had some success in the season so far with victories in 25 of their 37 matches and second-place finishes at both the AVC National Qualifier, in February, and the Houston Shoot Out 3, in March. Here are their key players: [player_tooltip player_id="87431" first="Teresa" last="Garza"] – Outside Hitter – HS: Santa Fe – 2021 It's easy to identify [player_tooltip player_id="87431" first="Teresa" last="Garza"]'s jumping ability as her main asset as a volleyball player. Don't get me wrong, Garza is very skilled and knows how to play the game, but her ability to jump out of the gym places her in a different category, especially on offense. Garza not only gets really high up at the net and hits over-the-top of blockers but she also puts a lot of power on the ball, a combination that makes of her a real threat even from the back row. Her passing-defense game is also very solid and that attracted the University of Wyoming to get a commitment from her. She ranks 42nd on our 2021 Prep Dig State Rankings. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12242688/606d43f702b189089824a462" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>   [player_tooltip player_id="87432" first="Rachel" last="Brown"] – Middle-Blocker – HS: Clear Springs - 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="87432" first="Rachel" last="Brown"]'s physicality is really difficult to match at the net. She's significantly tall at six-foot, but her athleticism and leaping ability make her even bigger at the net. Brown's offense is built upon her physical tools as she has a rare combination of power and speed and it really shows when she hits slide sets. When blocking, Brown pairs that level of athleticism with great reading of the game and a good technique, also generating positive results. Ranked 43rd on our 2021 Prep Dig State Rankings, she will continue developing her game at the University of Tulsa. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9635474/606d38d90c5da20c10b26f11" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/ashlyn-svoboda/">[player_tooltip player_id="118708" first="Ashlyn" last="Svoboda"]</a> – Right Sider/Outside Hitter – HS: Friendswood - 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="118708" first="Ashlyn" last="Svoboda"] has an impressive all-around game that allows her to help AVA TX 18 Adidas in a variety of ways. Typically deployed as a right sider, she brings some firepower and a lot of efficiency to the net. Her strongest skills, however, are probably at the backcourt as she's an exceptional defender, combining outstanding positioning and superior ball control, and a very reliable passer. Ranked 62nd on our 2021 Prep Dig State Rankings, she could transition to the libero position as she starts her collegiate career at Northwestern State University in the summer. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/10475074/6045fdf88cdf2b132039f1bd" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>