2022 Houston Area Standouts – Middle Blockers

<p>The club volleyball season is pretty much over for the class of 2022 players. There are still some tournaments scheduled for the 18s, but most of the top club teams around the country have already shut down as several players are ready to start the next step of their careers at the collegiate level.</p> <p>It’s been a fantastic season, which culminated with the 2022 USA Volleyball Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, at the end of April. I’ve been fortunate to watch most of the top 18s teams of the Houston area in person and am taking the week to highlight some of the prospects that impressed me the most in each position. Now it’s time for the middle blockers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="87480" first="Alexis" last="Roberson"] – HJV 18 Elite – HS: Ridge Point</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="87480" first="Alexis" last="Roberson"] is a middle with all the tools to dominate the game in the net – size, power, mobility and understanding of the game. The 6’4” Roberson is extremely physical and is nearly unstoppable on offense as she hits a quick set and makes contact with the ball at a very high point. Roberson is also very mobile and does an excellent job with her blocking in both moving across the net and taking up space from hitters. She’s soon taking her talents to LSU.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13496844/6263db804df5dd12288a7708" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="87477" first="Morgan" last="Perkins"] – Houston Skyline 18 Royal – HS: Episcopal</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="87477" first="Morgan" last="Perkins"]’ athleticism is off the charts and makes of her a very effective player at the net. Perkins stands at 6’1” and has a huge wingspan, which provides her with a sizeable presence at the net. She’s very efficient when hitting the ball and extremely aggressive with her blocking. She has been a key piece in both her Houston Skyline and her high school Episcopal teams and is headed to Oklahoma for her collegiate career.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11480934/6184ea8338640b05ccfdd125" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Karrington Kays – TAV Houston 18 Adidas – HS: Bridgeland</strong></p> <p>Another talented middle blocker who will be joining a college program soon, at the University of Saint Thomas, Karrington Kays thrives for her dynamic play at the net. A six-footer, she has excellent mobility and is also very consistent, delivering exactly what you’d expect her to day in and day out. Kays is very powerful on offense and an even better blocker as she gets to move around really well and has an excellent reading of the game.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11341970/61d3aefb7bd36208f87ff9e9" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tatum Threadgill – Woodlands Revolution 18 Adidas – HS: John Cooper</strong></p> <p>Tatum Threadgill played outside hitter for her high school team John Cooper, where her 6’2” frame was more important on offense, but converted into a solid middle blocker for her Woodlands Revolution team during the club season. She’s very strong physically and provided the team with a solid presence at the net, especially with her blocking. Threadgill is not only tall, but also long and does a very good job in using her length at the net.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13146800/623911bada52a00a9420e135" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Meagan Mayfield – Houston Stellar 18 Elite – HS: Barbers Hill</strong></p> <p>Meagan Mayfield knows how to make her presence felt on the court as she plays the game with a lot of passion and excitement. She stands at 5’10” but has a tremendous vertical and can go toe-to-toe with some of the tallest middle blockers in the entire state. Mayfield has a well-diversified offense, being capable of scoring off of a handful of different sets, and is an impactful blocker as well. She’s set to continue her career at the collegiate level at Mcneese State.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15108296/61ffbddc7bde050af44a9054" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sydney Speer – Asics Willowbrook 18 Gold – HS: Tomball Memorial</strong></p> <p>Capable of playing in the middle and the right, Sydney Speer proved to be a valuable asset to her Asics Willowbrook team during the club season. Her 6’2” frame is certainly a nice asset to have, but only if you make the most of it as Speer does. She uses her tremendous length to be a scoring threat wherever she is on the court and is also a very productive blocker as she’s able to quickly get anywhere on the court with her huge steps.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14246191/6258fffcf31d260b6cc0d6ba" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>