Triple Crown NIT Recap – The Eye of the Hurricane
The Triple Crown National Invitation Tournament was held at the Kansas City Convention Center. There were hundreds of talented teams from across the country competing in this awesome tournament and over 500 college coaches were in attendance. Texas was well…
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Continue ReadingThe Triple Crown National Invitation Tournament was held at the Kansas City Convention Center. There were hundreds of talented teams from across the country competing in this awesome tournament and over 500 college coaches were in attendance. Texas was well represented with 69 teams in the 15’s -18’s divisions. Over the course of the three days we were able to witness some amazing play from our wonderful Texas players.
The level of play from this tournament was eye-popping and jaw dropping. The best way to describe it all was just like a witnessing a hurricane rip through everything in its path. Each court had so much action, hard hitting, and suspense that was an absolute whirlwind experience. The tense moments had everyone on edge. During a hurricane, there is a moment that everything just calms down. That moment is when the eye of the storm passes through. In the midst of all of the chaos, there is a moment where everything stops and just feels calm. The following players showed the same calmness in their game. Nothing fazes them during the toughest moments and toughest opponents. Their facial expressions never change and they operate as if they know something we don’t. They don’t rely on the waves of momentum swings. It is almost as if they are playing a different game then everyone else. These players are a joy to coach because you know that they will always come through for you in the clutch. This article is about those players that stood out to me as being extremely calm during the storms, which is something that should be commended.
When I watch a volleyball match, I don’t watch it as most spectators do. I very rarely follow the ball any more. In order to truly analyze players, I watch the individual players throughout the entire play. This tells me so much about them. I loved watching the following players during their matches that I saw. It just made me smile because I know exactly what their future college coach is going to love about them. They have a special gift and this article is highlighting it.
Lauryn “Lolo” Lambert Lauryn “Lolo” Lambert 5'9" | OH Plano East Senior | 2024 State #20 Nation TX [2024] 5-8 Outside (HS: Bishop Lynch/Club: Dallas Skyline/Verbal: Uncommitted)
Lauryn is currently ranked as the 2nd best overall prospect and 2nd best outside in the 2024 Class according to our Prep Dig State Rankings. She plays high school at Bishop Lynch and club for the nationally recognized Dallas Skyline volleyball program. I sat and watched this phenom destroy the ball time and time again this past weekend. I smiled as parents to the left and right of me were oohing and aahing at her amazing high-flying abilities. But I was smiling for a different reason. The smile was because she is simply playing a different game than everyone else on the court. It is almost as if she knows something that we don’t. She knows that she was born to play this game at a high level and nothing will stop her from achieving her goals. Keep your eye on this youngster because she is one of the best in the game right now.
Harmony Sample Harmony Sample 5'11" | S Hebron | 2022 State #50 Nation TX [2022] 5-11 Setter (HS: Hebron/Club: Madfrog/Verbal: Notre Dame)
Harmony is currently listed as the 21st best overall prospect and 5th best setter in the state. Miss Sample plays for Hebron High School and Madfrog. I sat at the Media table and watched this young lady shine bright amongst other stars on championship court as her team was in the spotlight on day two. She was playing against some ridiculous talent on the other side of the net and her team was fighting them extremely hard. Even during the bombs going off left and right, she remained calm and cool. It was so refreshing to watch a player play her game no matter what. The Notre Dame commit needs to be highlighted for this ability as it is a gift to play like this. I was extremely impressed.
Bethanie Wu Bethanie Wu 5'10" | S Lovejoy | 2024 State TX [2024] 5-10 Setter (HS: Lovejoy/Club: Texas Advantage Volleyball/Verbal: Uncommitted)
Bethanie is currently ranked as the 32nd best prospect overall in the 2024 Class according to our Prep Dig State Rankings. She plays high school volleyball at the three-time State Champion Lovejoy High School and also club for the famed TAV club out of the Dallas Metroplex area. I got the chance to meet this young lady at our Top 250 Expo in December and it was a total pleasure. So many stars surround her on her club team. They are big and powerful and play with so much emotion. The only problem with this is they have highs and lows. When I watched Bethanie play this past weekend, I was in awe of how composed she stayed during some very tense moments when her team was tested. Miss Wu passed the test with flying colors as she never lets those big moments scare her level of play. She is able to run a very high octane offense while remaining as calm as can be.
Gillian Pitts Gillian Pitts 5'9" | DS/L Prestonwood Christian | 2025 State #92 Nation TX [2025] 5-9 Libero (HS: Prestonwood Christian/Club: Texas Advantage Volleyball/Verbal: Uncommitted)
We have not written about Gillian yet due to her grad class not being released yet. But I will let you in on a little secret…she is one of the best liberos in the country. Her skill-set in the back row is on another level and everyone who watches her court will see that. But what most college coaches will notice about her is how emotions stay in check despite playing against players older than her. They will notice that she is consistent no matter the atmosphere. Call her the mailwoman because she always delivers! During the tightest moments when her team needs her the most, she will pass a “three pass” during serve receive so her team can be in-system. Miss Pitts is someone who will always remain calm during the storm and it should be commended.
As always 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. Also don’t forget to help these kids get more exposure by sharing our stories with your friends. Help us help them by simply retweeting on Twitter or sharing on Facebook. Thanks for following us, Prep Dig Texas Family! Don’t be afraid to interact with us. We love the likes, shares, and quotes/comments. Keep them coming!