FAST Pre Nationals – 17s – The Right Sides
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 on June 11-12 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 are spending not one, but two weeks producing reports about the event. After looking at the 16s division last week, we’re diving into the 17s this week and in today’s article, we’ll highlight the top right side hitters.
Sydney Jordan Sydney Jordan 6'3" | OH Ridge Point | 2023 State #44 Nation TX – HJV 17 Elite – HS: Ridge Point – 2023
Originally an outside hitter (and one of the best in the business, being ranked second in our 2024 Prep Dig State Rankings), Sydney Jordan Sydney Jordan 6'3" | OH Ridge Point | 2023 State #44 Nation TX was moved to the right for a part of the tournament and proved to be a viable option there too. Her 6’3” frame and tremendous length make of her an offensive force anywhere at the net and if the plan was to have her big and efficient block in front of opposing outside hitters, that worked too. Jordan is also an excellent passer, which added another element to the team’s serve-receive system.
Isabella Marino – Texas Tornados 17 Adidas – HS: Fort Bend Travis – 2023
A physical player who can perform well on the right or the middle, Isabella Marino offered a solid presence at the net for her Texas Tornados 17 Adidas team. Standing at 6’2”, she added a lot in terms of blocking and used the physical tools to score points too, often overpowering opponents at the net.
Grace Carroll Grace Carroll 6'5" | RS Cornerstone | 2024 State #21 Nation TX – Alamo 16 Premier – HS: Alamo Heights – 2024
Grace Carroll Grace Carroll 6'5" | RS Cornerstone | 2024 State #21 Nation TX was an absolute beast for her Alamo 16 Premier team during the tournament. The 6’5”, left-handed hitter was unstoppable even when she was on the backcourt, using all of her length and firepower to score. Carroll is not only tall and powerful, but she also has an interesting ability to find unlikely angles when she gets in a rhythm. She’s also an excellent blocker and can set too.
Randi Rush Randi Rush 5'9" | S New Braunfels | 2023 TX – Ignite VBC 17 Blaze – HS: New Braunfels – 2023
A setter at the high school level, Randi Rush Randi Rush 5'9" | S New Braunfels | 2023 TX took on hitting duties with her Ignite VBC 17 Blaze team and did an excellent job with that. She played taller than her 5’9” frame and displayed some very interesting physicality. Rush is also very technically gifted and got to contribute to the team’s serve-receive system as well.
Kylie Mueller Kylie Mueller 6'0" | OH Dulles | 2023 State TX – Asics Willowbrook 17 Gold – HS: Memorial – 2023
A very skilled offensive player, Kylie Mueller Kylie Mueller 6'0" | OH Dulles | 2023 State TX spent time on both pins during the tournament. She stands at 5’10” and has a very heavy right arm, but what makes of her a prolific scorer is her excellent variation. Mueller does a great job in looking across the net and identifying the best shot to score on that specific play. She also makes good decisions and plays with a lot of intensity.