Nets Over Texas #1 – 16s – The Players With Huge Potential
More than 80 club volleyball teams were active this past weekend in Houston with the first stop of the Nets Over Texas event taking place in three different venues in the area. The tournament had two divisions, with 17s and…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMore than 80 club volleyball teams were active this past weekend in Houston with the first stop of the Nets Over Texas event taking place in three different venues in the area.
The tournament had two divisions, with 17s and 18s paired in a single event and the 16s playing in one of their own. We followed the 16s tournament and spent most of the Saturday in the Asics Willowbrook facility, where 24 of the 41 entered teams competed.
It was a great opportunity to spot young talent in the state of Texas and we’ve been presenting our findings here over the course of the week. In the final article about the event, we decided to point out some of the players who might still not be at the top of their games, but undoubtedly have a ton of potential to develop.
Players to Watch:
Alexandra Ryans – Right Sider – Renegades 16 Royal – HS: Morton Ranch – 2024
Alexandra Ryans is listed at 5’10”, but on the court, she seems taller than that. Her physicality is easily her main asset right now and she uses it when hitting at the net. Ryans is still maturing as a player but she’s already able to perform the complex role of a right sider, setting when at the back and hitting when at the net. She has a nice touch on the ball but should work on releasing the ball faster in order to create more possibilities for her game. She seems to have the right mentality to develop as a player as she’s obviously a hard worker when on the court.
Kennedi Alexander – Outside Hitter – Club South 16-1 – HS: Channelview – 2024
Kennedi Alexander’s game is very well developed when compared to Ryans’, but we’ve decided to include her in the list because her potential is so high. She was originally a middle blocker and the strength at the net she displays certainly comes from there. A six-footer, Alexander jumps really well and has the perfect body for the sport, with long arms and big hands. One area of improvement for her is her backcourt game, which is certainly not weak, but could get better.
Ndia Kalu – Outside Hitter – Skyline 16 White – HS: Ridge Point – 2024
Ndia Kalu is another case of exceptional athleticism that needs some refinement in order to produce as much as her potential indicates. The 5’9” outside hitter impresses for her ability to jump and hit the ball hard, but sometimes seems to not have control of such strength. She’s excellent at the net, being able to score from the left or the right because of her reach and heavy arm, but struggles at the back on a few occasions.