Houston Area Five Players to Watch: 6A – District 21
The high school volleyball season is set to start in just a few weeks in the state of Texas and after a quick break following the conclusions of the club season, we can’t wait any longer to watch the top…
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Continue ReadingThe high school volleyball season is set to start in just a few weeks in the state of Texas and after a quick break following the conclusions of the club season, we can’t wait any longer to watch the top prospects of the Lone Star State in action again.
There will be several thousand players in action across the 1,207 high school teams that compete in the six divisions of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and among them, there are some very talented ones, who certainly have a bright future in the sport.
As we continue to preview what the high school season will look like in the Houston area, we shift our focus from teams to players and highlight five of the most intriguing prospects in the districts located in the region.
Our topic this time is Division 6A – District 21:
Emma Montes – Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker – Kingwood – Club: TAV Houston – 2023
A versatile and explosive player, Emma Montes has played different roles for Kingwood, but has now established herself as an outside hitter with the team. A six-footer, she can hit the ball hard and, in part because of her background as a middle, is extremely effective when hitting quicker sets at the pin. She’s also a solid blocker and shown great progress in her backcourt skills during the last club season with TAV Houston. Last year, while still used in the middle, Montes had 236 kills, 85 blocks and 62 aces.
Hannah Smith – Setter/Right Side – Kingwood – Club: Houston Stellar – 2023
One of the strengths of Kingwood is their setter/right sider combo and Hannah Smith is a big part of it. The six-footer is very smooth on the court and excels in every volleyball skill, which makes of her a great asset to have. Her setting is very intelligent, always using the best player for the moment, and she can score points of her own at the net too, besides being a solid blocker. In the 2021-2022 season, Smith tallied 425 assists, 203 kills, 245 digs, 53 blocks and 50 aces.
Layla Smith Layla Smith 6'3" | MB Atascosita | 2023 State TX – Middle Blocker/Right Side – Atascocita – Club: Houston Skyline – 2023
Capable of playing in the middle or the right, Layla Smith Layla Smith 6'3" | MB Atascosita | 2023 State TX offers a great deal of flexibility for the teams she plays for. Standing at 6’2”, she has an excellent presence at the net and is capable of bothering even the best hitters in the state with her big block. She’s very strong when hitting from the right and will, sometimes, make her approach behind the setter even when she’s blocking in the middle. Also a standout basketball player, Smith was extremely productive for Atascocita last year, when she tallied 227 kills and 106 blocks.
Karissa Maldonado – Setter – North Shore – 2023
A 5’5” setter with excellent ball control, Karissa Maldonado is a key piece in her North Shore team. She’s great with her locations and even better with her decision-making, helping his team have a lot of consistency on offense. She was in great form during the last high school season, ending her team’s campaign with 604 assists and 140 digs.
Kennedy Gustafson – Defensive Specialist – Summer Creek – Club: TAV Houston – 2023
One of the most reliable and productive defensive players in the area, Kennedy Gustafson is a stud on the backcourt. The 5’8” defensive specialist not only produces in high volume, but also brings a lot of stability and confidence to her team on the backcourt. Gustafson thrives for her excellent positioning and her calm on the ball, a combination that typically leads to clean and accurate first contacts. She’s also a very good server and generated 601 digs, 623 passes and 43 aces for Summer Creek in their last campaign.