Six Outstanding Outsides from the Houston area
The club volleyball season is entering its fifth month in the state of Texas and a lot has happened since the very first tournaments in December. I’ve been fortunate to cover in-person a lot of what has happened in the…
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Continue ReadingThe club volleyball season is entering its fifth month in the state of Texas and a lot has happened since the very first tournaments in December.
I’ve been fortunate to cover in-person a lot of what has happened in the Houston area and it’s been really exciting to see some prospects I already knew of find ways to further improve their games and others that I didn’t surprise me with impressive skill sets.
I’m taking this week to highlight some of the most interesting players I saw during these first four months of coverage in each position and this time we’ll present some of the most intriguing outside hitters who hit the court.
Avery Shimaitis Avery Shimaitis 5'11" | OH George Ranch | 2022 State #142 Nation TX – Houston Skyline 18 Royal – HS: George Ranch – 2022
One of the top scorers in the entire state during the last high school season, Avery Shimaitis Avery Shimaitis 5'11" | OH George Ranch | 2022 State #142 Nation TX is one of the players that progressed the most in her senior season. The 5’11” pin hitter has always been an offensive force, but she improved a lot in terms of versatility, developing the ability to play on the right and adding quite a few weapons to her already comprehensive offensive arsenal. Shimaitis is a high-usage player, but manages to keep her errors at a very low rate and is also a very good passer.
Ariana Brown Ariana Brown 5'11" | OH Conroe | 2023 State TX – Asics Willowbrook 17 Gold – HS: Klein – 2023
The owner of one of the heaviest right arms in the state of Texas, Ariana Brown Ariana Brown 5'11" | OH Conroe | 2023 State TX continues to scare opponents across the net with her powerful game at the net. The six-foot-tall Brown can not only hit the ball hard, but she also jumps really high and is difficult to stop because of her intelligent shot selection. She gained notoriety for her offensive game but has steadily improved in other areas and is now a good passer, defender, server and blocker as well.
Skylar George Skylar George 6'1" | OH Stratford | 2023 State TX – AVA TX 17 Adidas – HS: Stratford – 2023
Skylar George Skylar George 6'1" | OH Stratford | 2023 State TX ‘s combination of power, technique and intelligence make of her a key player for both her high school and club teams. She stands at 6’1” and has enough power to overmatch even the toughest blockers at the net, but will also use finesse to score when the play calls for it. Her high volleyball IQ also reflects in her ability to avoid mistakes and on her excellent defensive production.
Cindy Tchouangwa Cindy Tchouangwa 5'11" | OH Tompkins | 2023 State #45 Nation TX – HJV 17 Elite – HS: Tompkins – 2023
A versatile and powerful offensive player, Cindy Tchouangwa Cindy Tchouangwa 5'11" | OH Tompkins | 2023 State #45 Nation TX has been splitting her time between the left and the right for her club team HJV 17 Elite. She has tremendous offensive power and is a player that can single-handedly carry her team’s offense on any given day. Tchouangwa has a vast set of shots, which makes her very unpredictable at the net. Although she makes the most impact in the game at the net, she’s also a reliable passer and a productive defender.
Tatum Busch Tatum Busch 5'11" | OH Deer Park | 2024 State TX – Houston Stellar 16 Elite – HS: Deer Park – 2024
Tatum Busch Tatum Busch 5'11" | OH Deer Park | 2024 State TX ‘s excellent all-around game makes of her a player every coach would like to have on their team. The 5’11” outside hitter is capable of impacting the game in basically every area as she’s a prolific defender and passer, but also a scoring machine at the net. She’s very complete and efficient and plays the game with extreme calm and focus. Her decision-making is excellent, showing her tremendous volleyball IQ.
Aaliyah Smith – HJV 15 Elite – HS: Ridge Point – 2025
Aaliyah Smith had no easy task entering the club season as she was fighting for minutes in a loaded HJV 15 Elite team. The six-foot outside hitter has proved to be a very important piece for the team and has become one of the players that get on the court the most after some months of excellent performances. Smith is a fantastic offensive player, combining tremendous power and impressive vision of the court. With her ability to play on either side of the net, she also gives her team a lot of flexibility. Smith is also solid on the backcourt and has a bright future ahead of her.