FAST Pre Nationals – 16s – The Middle Blockers
The club volleyball season is quickly approaching its end, with the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC), the highlight of the year, set to happen from June 23-July 4 in Indiana. The FAST Pre Nationals tournament has established itself…
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Continue ReadingThe club volleyball season is quickly approaching its end, with the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC), the highlight of the year, set to happen from June 23-July 4 in Indiana.
The FAST Pre Nationals tournament has established itself as the final event in the Houston area ahead of the GJNC. This year, the tournament was held in three different venues this past weekend and offered a final opportunity for us to watch some of the best teams in the state before they had to Indiana to fight for the national title.
We were at the FAST Complex on Saturday afternoon watching the 16s and 17s Power Pools and this time will spend not one, but two weeks producing reports about the event. This week we’re focusing on the 16s division and this time we’ll list some of the most impressive middles we saw in action.
Jaela Auguste Jaela Auguste 6'0" | MB Grand Oaks | 2024 State #17 Nation TX – TAV Houston 16 Adidas – HS: Grand Oaks – 2024
Few players have improved as much as Jaela Auguste Jaela Auguste 6'0" | MB Grand Oaks | 2024 State #17 Nation TX during the club season. Anyone following volleyball in Texas knows about her physical tools, which also make of her a standout track athlete, and while her jumping ability is just improving, the six-footer was also able to make great progress in other areas of her game, such as her reading of the game and her ability to hit different sets. Auguste is an exceptional blocker with her quick feet and huge wingspan and is also developing into an unstoppable hitter.
Zoe Humphrey Zoe Humphrey 6'2" | MB St. Pius X | 2024 State #32 Nation TX – HJV 16 Elite – HS: Klein – 2024
Zoe Humphrey Zoe Humphrey 6'2" | MB St. Pius X | 2024 State #32 Nation TX is another well-known name in the Lone Star State that just continues to get better. Standing at 6’2”, she also has very long arms, displaying an imposing figure at the net. Her athleticism and aggressive playing style make of her one of the most intimidating blockers in her age group. Humphrey is already a very efficient offensive player thanks to her high contact point and heavy arm, but this is an area of her game there’s still a lot of room for improvement.
Sydnee Rodriguez – Alamo 16 Elite – HS: Cibolo Steele – 2024
Sydnee Rodriguez plays volleyball with a lot of energy. She stands at 5’11” and has a lot of power in her body. Rodriguez can jump high and hit the ball hard, a combination that makes of her a very efficient and productive offensive player. She’s also a very mobile and intelligent blocker, who thrives on closing up the space for opposing hitters in a smart way.
Jordan Taylor – HJV 15 Elite – HS: Langham Creek – 2025
One of the most impressive class of 2025 middle blockers to emerge in the club season, Jordan Taylor continues to refine her game and add to her impressive physicality. She stands at 6’5” and entered the season as a very good blocker already, but has had great improvement in terms of reading the game and moving around the net. Her offense is still pretty effective because of her size along, but Taylor is putting the pieces together now and has become especially proficient when hitting the slide set.
Sofia Scheuerman – SA Juniors 16 Adidas – HS: Clark – 2024
An addition coming from crosstown club Alamo, Sofia Scheuerman immediately became an important piece for her San Antonio Juniors 16 Adidas team. Also capable of playing on the right, she’s a very productive offensive player, playing very explosive and aggressive volleyball when she’s set at the net. The six-foot Scheuerman is also an efficient blocker, making good use of her long arms and superior reading to shut opponents down.
Carrington Jaimes – AJV 16 Molten – HS: Lake Travis – 2024
A very active and complete player, Carrington Jaimes gets to make a great impact in her AJV 16 Molten team. Standing at 6’1′, she’s very productive on both sides of the ball at the net and is also capable of contributing at the backcourt. Jaimes is an excellent passer and defender and typically stays on the court while on the backcourt, strengthening the team’s defensive system.