TOV Challenge #7 – Liberos That Controlled The Backcourt
Another weekend, another tournament in the club season in the great state of Texas. While several of the top teams in the Houston area took the weekend off, there were events going on and we were there following the action.…
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Continue ReadingAnother weekend, another tournament in the club season in the great state of Texas. While several of the top teams in the Houston area took the weekend off, there were events going on and we were there following the action.
Our choice this past weekend was the TOV Challenge #7, which took place at the Texas One Volleyball Club, in Richmond, where eight teams competed in the 18s Division and 12 hit the court among the 17s.
As usual, we’re presenting the most impressive players in each position during the weekend, following with our selection for the All-Tournament Teams in both divisions. Now it’s time to give a shoutout to the most impressive liberos.
Cassidy MacLean – Woodlands Revolution 18 Premier – HS: The Woodlands – 2022
Cassidy MacLean impressed with her reliability and confidence on the court. The 5’5” defender gets the job done on the backcourt in great fashion as she’s extremely efficient with her passing and also stands out for the several digs she makes every match. MacLean also benefits from her great reading and ability to anticipate plays to keep the ball up in the air. A Trinity University commit, she ended her high school career strongly, producing 633 digs and 590 passes for The Woodlands.
Bethanie Durant – AVA TX 18 Attack – HS: Santa Fe – 2022
Capable of playing as a libero or an outside hitter, Bethanie Durant has provided excellent stability for her AVA TX 18 Attack team over the weekend. The 5’6” prospect was as effective as anyone on the backcourt with her excellent technique. Durant was extremely precise with her passing and impressed with her ability to dig hard-driven hits. She seemed to always be one step ahead of the other players and also did well when asked to set in transition. A Southwestern Assemblies of God University commit, the tallied 179 digs and 224 passes for Santa Fe in the last high school season.
Abbie Smith – Fort Bend Jrs 18 Legacy – HS: Cypress Falls – 2022
A new addition to Fort Bend Jrs 18 Legacy coming from the Texas Tornados club, Abbie Smith has proved to be a valuable player to her new team. The 5’2” libero is extremely quick on the backcourt and thrives for her great technique. Her defensive technique is excellent and Smith showed to be an efficient server too, going on long runs from the service line. She’s a player that doesn’t hold her emotions on the court and it’s easy to see how passionate she is about the game. Smith is coming from a tremendous season with Cypress Falls, in which she delivered 667 digs and 798 passes.
Isabella Reid – FR Premier Jrs 17 Gold – HS: Clear Brook – 2023
Isabella Reid was a defensive machine for her FR Premier 18 Gold team during the event. The 5’3” libero has a great combination of quickness and technique and is highly productive on the backcourt. She delivered pinpoint passes all-day long and benefited from her excellent positioning to thrive on defense too. Reid remains calm on the court and never loses focus. She had 239 digs and 193 passes in just 57 sets with Clear Brook during the last high school season.
Eliza Cosme – A1 Elite 17 Royal – 2024
It was the second time I’ve watched Eliza Cosme and her solid performances just confirmed my first impressions about her. The A1 Elite 17 Royal is nearly flawless on the backcourt and a very important piece for her team with her ability to pass and digs balls. She does a great job in placing herself in spots in which she gets to be on the ball a lot and make plays for her team.