A Wisconsin Take On Top Texas Talent – The 15s
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My name is Chris Fitzgerald, National Analyst for Prep Dig, but I am based out of Wisconsin. I started writing for Prep Dig Wisconsin during the 2018 club season and it’s hard to believe four years later that we’re writing…
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Continue ReadingMy name is Chris Fitzgerald, National Analyst for Prep Dig, but I am based out of Wisconsin. I started writing for Prep Dig Wisconsin during the 2018 club season and it’s hard to believe four years later that we’re writing about athletes all across the country. I have developed a really fun relationship with Prep Dig Texas scout, Michael DeLeon and I am always amazed at the volume of high level talent from Texas. I was able to spend seven days of coverage at USAV Nationals in Indianapolis last week with plenty of notes of teams from coast to coast. However, these Lone Star athletes definitely standout in a sea of hundreds of kids in a convention center. Here is my take on some of the 15s from Texas.
The National Champions – Alamo 15 Premier
The number of Texas teams competing at this tournament is remarkable. The number of highly talented athletes really give multiple Texas teams a shot to win it all. Alamo 15 Premier were the ones standing at the top of the mountain when it was all said and done. How did they do it? They have a really good touch at every position. Libero, Brooklyn Vigil just makes everything look so routine. From serve receive, to taking a second ball and making it hittable, to anticipating the next hard swing she can do it all. This squad was able to effectively use two setters who bring a much different skill set to the court. Emma Gonzalez is the fiery spark who owns the backrow as a setter and commands the court. She is gritty! Kaia Thiele brings an offensively physicality where she jumped, turned, and swung to land the ball perfectly in the deep corner. The defense is always on their toes. Aniya Hall Aniya Hall 5'9" | MB Reagan | 2025 State TX out of the middle was absolutely electric where her arm snap is so quick the ball is down before she lands from her approach. And then there is Megan Fitch Megan Fitch 6'1" | OH Cornerstone Christian | 2025 State #43 Nation TX . There are athletes who have flashes of greatness and then tend to disappear. Fitch is an athlete who was consistently great throughout four days of play. At any level that is difficult, let alone the open level. She was quietly effective throughout the whole tournament and deservedly earned the MVP of 15 Open.
Houston Juniors 15 Elite
I saw this team play at the Mideast Qualifier in March, the Windy City Qualifier in April, and seeing them last week I could see the improvement from the first time I saw them take the court. Kennedi Rogers is scary good with her athleticism and ability to score from everywhere on the court. Mackenzie Collins was one of the top middles in the 15 Open field with how athletic and explosive she was at the front line. She can run a variety of tempos and is so tough to contain when HJV is in system. Jordan Taylor is a long, athletic 6’5 middle blocker who has improved immensely over the club season. She’s moving quicker from pin to pin and has included a slide in her offensive scheme. Aaliyah Smith is another electric outside where she can score in multiple ways and can take what the defense gives her. Setter and right side Kirra Musgrove Kirra Musgrove 6'2" | S Lutheran South Academy | 2025 State #12 Nation TX has such a high ceiling being 6’2 and left handed. As her game develops, she will be someone who could be in contention for a setting spot on USAV Youth National Teams. There were huge flashes of greatness for HJV and this core group could be one to start next season as a favorite in plenty of tournaments.
@houstonjuniors has responded! Up 20-7 in set two. Aaliyah Smith with the hammer down the line pic.twitter.com/XLiAIuRAsH
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) June 28, 2022
More Athletes To Know
Callie Krueger Callie Krueger 5'5" | DS/L Cedar Park | 2025 State #22 Nation TX – Austin Skyline 15 Royal
Krueger stood out instantly for her Austin Skyline 15 Royal team. She provides consistency at every touch where her side of the net can get into system. With her athleticism, she has a ton of range and provides a positive touch anywhere within her radius. This was a really fun team to follow in 15 Open where they went head to head with some of the top teams.
Morgan Madison – Houston Skyline 15 Royal
Madison is another one who has a lot of athleticism which is a gamechanger for this Houston Skyline team. They were on a roll until Drive Nation caught fire and knocked them out of the gold bracket. Madison just glides on the court where she is so steady and consistent. Her platform is quiet and effortless, making it look easy when it definitely is not.
Takyla Brown Takyla Brown 5'9" | S Weiss | 2025 State #150 Nation TX and Parker Duncan – AJV 15 Adidas
I really liked this combo. I saw them on Day 1 and again on Day 3 and it was much of the same thing where setter Takyla Brown Takyla Brown 5'9" | S Weiss | 2025 State #150 Nation TX was able to find outside hitter Parker Duncan on the pin as well as in the backrow. Brown receives the ball high and neutral where she can take it anywhere, but Duncan was one of her favorite targets. Duncan’s arm swing is violent where she can really make solid hand contact to terminate.
@takylabrown25 to Parker Duncan. 📈📈📈 @AustinJuniors pic.twitter.com/VsENjW97cF
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) June 29, 2022
Taylor Porter Taylor Porter 5'11" | OH Cypress Ranch | 2025 State #85 Nation TX – Houston Skyline 15 Royal – Pin Hitter
Lightning in a bottle. Taylor Porter Taylor Porter 5'11" | OH Cypress Ranch | 2025 State #85 Nation TX is absolutely electric where I saw her play as a six rotation right side, but she can score points anywhere. With her athleticism and quickness, she brings a different look to the right side where she is so fast twitch, her opponents are not used to coming after them. She can do the same from the backrow as well.
Madeleine Smotherman – Madfrog 15 N Green
Smotherman has all the qualities you would look for in a libero, but she was also the floor captain for her team. She has a major presence for her team where she plays with a calm, cool, and collected vibe. She is also the one who will talk to the R1/Up Official and she makes eye contact and always addresses this official in particular as “Yes Ma’am”.
Taryn Morris Taryn Morris 6'3" | MB Braswell | 2025 State TX and Mary Beth Morse Mary Beth Morse 5'11" | OH Southlake Carroll | 2025 State TX – TAV 15 Black
TAV always has plenty of consistency throughout their whole lineup. However, this middle blocker/right side combo was a lot for the other side of the net to handle with Morris and Morse. Morris is primarily a middle blocker where she hits a real heavy ball and was tough for the opposing block and passers to handle. Morse showed that she could hit from multiple spots in the front row where her would swing primarily out of the right side, but could also come out of the middle and take it to both corners.
Hannah Beauford Hannah Beauford 5'11" | S Prosper | 2025 State #99 Nation TX – Drive Nation 15 Red
Every time I watched Drive Nation play, Beauford was such a presence as a setter for her squad. There was even a time where she was blocking out of the middle and turn around to set. She was a pure playmaker – savvy, she had such a great feel for the game and knew how to find the hot hitter. Her play in the gold bracket was key in their major win over Houston Skyline and nearly knocked out the eventual champion in Alamo.
Addison Gaido Addison Gaido 6'5" | RS Georgetown | 2025 State #45 Nation TX – Austin Skyline 15 Royal
This Austin Skyline team had a fun spark to their play. There were a lot of weapons to score and one of the “X-Factors” is right side Addison Gaido Addison Gaido 6'5" | RS Georgetown | 2025 State #45 Nation TX . A long, athletic 6’4 who can play in the back row as well, was able to show quite a skill set where she can swing, block, and pass. Her ceiling is the sky and will be exciting to see her game developed.
Opposite Addison Gaido Addison Gaido 6'5" | RS Georgetown | 2025 State #45 Nation TX is going to be a fun athlete to watch out of @atxskylinejrs – she is long, athletic and physical. And she can play six rotations.
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) June 29, 2022