GJNC Previews: HOU Stellar 15 Elite

<p>The most important moment of the season is just around the corner for teams from the 15s, 16s and 17s age group from around the country as the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 26-July 5.</p> <p>As many as 728 teams are expected to compete in the 15 divisions for these three age groups and the state of Texas will, of course, be well-represented in the tournament with more than 50 teams expected to make the trip to Nevada.</p> <p>During the next few weeks, we’ll use this space to present the Lone Star state representatives in the tournament, recapping their performances during the club season and highlighting some of their top prospects.</p> <p><strong>HOU Stellar 15 Elite</strong></p> <p>The only 15s team of the Houston Stellar Volleyball Club to appear in the tournament, 15 Elite will play in the 15 USA division. The squad led by head coach Sara Zanon is having a tremendous season with 43 wins in 60 matches, but more than that, great finishes in some of the biggest events of the year. 15 Elite won the Lone Star Regionals, took second at the Adidas Lone Star Classic and finished third at the Tour of Texas and Countdown City Classic.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5-ZrLgCLx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5-ZrLgCLx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Houston Stellar VB Club (@houstonstellarvb)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="124105" first="Tatum" last="Busch"] – Outside Hitter – HS: Deer Park - 2024</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="124105" first="Tatum" last="Busch"] is arguably the most important player of HOU Stellar 15 Elite and, so far, the only member of the team to appear on our 2024 Prep Dig State Rankings at 15<sup>th</sup>. She’s an athletic and long outside hitter who uses her physical tools and her technical skills to control the action at the net. The 5’11” Tatum is an excellent option when the team is out-of-system because of her tremendous reach and above-average volleyball IQ.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15260200/60a205f6344a31089498d53f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Taylor Larkin – Middle Blocker – HS: Summercreek -2024</strong></p> <p>Taylor Larkin brings a lot of energy to the court every time she plays. The six-foot middle blocker is always in motion and impresses with her high level of intensity. Larkin is also very physical, a skill that helps on her work at the net. She’s got a really high contact point and can hit a few different sets, making it challenging for opposing blockers trying to stop her offense.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15089140/60a205f6344a31089498d525" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Ellie Ocampo – Outside Hitter – HS: Kingwood – 2024</strong></p> <p>The combination of Tatum and Ellie Ocampo at the outside hitter spot is one of HOU Stellar 15 Elite’s main strengths. As with Tatum, Ocampo is extremely reliable, which gives the team great balance and a high level of confidence to execute. The 5’11” Ocampo is lethal when she hits high angle and also helps the team with her passing and digging game.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15260202/60a205f68cd47a0e14ba0a8f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>