Friday Match to Watch: Smithson Valley vs Antonian Prep

<p>High school volleyball is underway in the state of Texas. Since the first week of August, teams from across the Lone Star State have been back on the court, battling each other in some fantastic matches, which are bringing the best of the sport in the state.</p> <p>Every once in a while, we’ll use this space to recommend some matches to keep and eye on and, most importantly, some of the most interesting prospects you’ll want to watch if you have an opportunity.</p> <p>Here’s our suggestion for Friday, September 3:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Smithson Valley vs Antonian Prep – 5.30pm</strong></p> <p>Few teams have started the season in the state of Texas as strongly as the Smithson Valley Rangers of Spring Branch, who have won 21 of their 24 first matches. Coached by Mellisa Miller, the team that competes in the Class 6A, Region IV, District 27, is still undefeated at home and enters the match a nine-match winning streak.</p> <p>Antonian Prep is having a stellar start of season of its own, emerging victorious in 26 out of their 32 matches so far. Working under the leadership of head coach Samantha McLure, the Apaches lost one to Cedar Ridge this past weekend and are looking for a statement win to bounce back. They compete in the TAPPS 6A Class, District 3.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Smithson Valley</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_106385" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-106385" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/thumbnail-2-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Smithson Valley HS[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101853" first="Rebekah" last="Williams"] – Outside Hitter – Club: Alamo - 2022</strong></p> <p>Rebekah ‘Bekah’ Williams is not slowing down on her last year of high school volleyball. Ranked 70^th in our 2022 Prep Dig State Rankings, the six-foot outside hitter is performing better on offense than ever before, registering a 37.7% kill percentage and an average of 3.9 per set, to a total of 208 kills, just 33 short of her career-high. A ruthless offensive player, she’s also leading the Lady Rangers in passes (279) and ranks second in digs (204) and blocks (22). Williams has committed to play for Louisiana Tech at the collegiate level.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11736469/607a67991763531850ed2635" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_104121" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-104121" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/jaci-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Sports Recruits[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="87484" first="Jaci" last="Mesa"] – Libero – Club: Alamo - 2022</strong></p> <p>A good volleyball team needs to have a solid balance between offense and defense and [player_tooltip player_id="87484" first="Jaci" last="Mesa"] makes sure that’s the case with Smithson Valley. The senior libero had been a stud for the Lady Rangers over the course of her high school career and is putting up huge numbers once again, with 341 digs, 247 passes and 16 aces registered so far. A Troy University commit, the 5’7” Mesa has an unreal ability to anticipate plays and pairs it with insane ball control, making of her one of the best liberos in the state and the 32^nd-highest ranked athlete on our 2022 Prep Dig State Rankings.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/4643188/608a4ec8bed8090840e02e28" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><strong> </strong><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Antonian Prep</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="155128" first="Kalina" last="Calvillo"] – Outside Hitter – Club: Alamo – 2024</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="155128" first="Kalina" last="Calvillo"] has emerged as a scoring machine for the Apaches this season after she totaled 331 kills (more than twice as many than the team’s second-best scorer) in just 32 matches. The 5’11” outside hitter showed she was on a mission right on the opening match of the season, when she dropped 23 against Harlan. Extremely explosive, yet technical and intelligent, Calvillo is hard to deal with because she can hit from anywhere at the net and send the ball to any direction. She’s also producing extremely well from the service line (22 aces), at the net (18 blocks) and from the backcourt (125 digs). She ranks 77th on our 2024 Prep Dig State Rankings.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15120961/61267cf3b3c8d10e50ef7ca5" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Olivia Arredondo – Setter – Club: Alamo – 2022</strong></p> <p>When a setter manages to approach the 3,000-assist mark before the end of her high school, we know there’s something special to her. That’s the case with Olivia Arredondo, the talented Antonian Prep and Alamo’s playmaker, who’s currently at 2,711, including 782 from this season alone, in which she’s averaging 10.5 per set. Arrendondo has great hands and an unbelievable ability to read opposing blockers and change the pace of the game to make things harder from them. She can play really fast, but never misses her accuracy, something that her hitters certainly appreciate. She’s 5’8”, but holds her own well at the net and is a tremendous defender, having dug 182 balls this season alone.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11509266/612ef9aa0662260a2cf87951" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>