Houston Open Previews – Middle Blockers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school volleyball season is underway in the state of Texas and although the public school tournament organized by the University Interscholastic League (UIL) is earning most of the attention, there's also been some great play coming from the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several of the best teams in the Houston area will be in action this week, when the Houston Skyline club will host the Houston Open 2022, a two-day season-opening tournament on Friday and Saturday that will reunite as many as 18 teams from the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Until the start of the tournament, we'll present some of the most promising prospects that will be in action this week, and in today's article, you'll know some of the most intriguing middle blockers set to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6303fce287e45","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["87556"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The towering Harrington is a force in the middle, causing a massive impact on both sides of the ball. Extremely physical and athletic, she has the ability to shut down opposing hitters with her huge block. Harrington is also a tremendous hitter, hitting powerfully, yet intelligently down the middle. Versatile, she can also play on the right if needed. She entered her senior season with 284 kills, 136 blocks and 99 digs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bdfd8eded25"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6304003187e46","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13244828/6302740519a53e0e249fef95' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bdfd8eded5c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6304003e87e47","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["179893"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"An athletic freak, the 6'1u0022 Minor was a key player in Fort Bend Christian Academy's State Championship winning campaign. She's extremely powerful, but also tremendously quick, two skills she developed as one of the best track athletes in the entire state. It's intriguing to see how much better she can get after producing 254 kills and 65 blocks last year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bdfd8eded81"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6304019387e48","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15464785/62d80d6c6898841924d386ef' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bdfd8ededa6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6304019a87e49","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["124146"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"St. Pius X added a player with the ability to change the course of a season in Humphrey, who joined the team this season after starring for Klein. A middle with impressive range and athleticism, she dominates the net like few others. Her blocking is probably her most valuable asset as she combines excellent mobility with great technique to shut down opponents. She's also a powerful hitter, who can overpower nearly every opposing blocker.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bdfd8ededd6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_630402fa87e4a","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17160372/62c6452d9a9c1f05c042d022' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bdfd8ededea"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6304034c87e4c","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Farah Farooq","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Episcopal","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431166' first='Houston' last='Juniors']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Episcopal has arguably the best middle blocker duo in the tournament with the dynamic Farooq pairing with Harrington. Extremely explosive, she uses her athleticism and physicality to make an impact at the net. She can be unstoppable on offense because of her high contact point and tremendous firepower, but is also a very good blocker, combining excellent mobility and an intelligent blocking technique.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bdfd8edee2c"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odde4_Puu_Y","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odde4_Puu_Y </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_630404a387e4d","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Faith Wilkins","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Concordia Lutheran","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Texas Legacy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A long and athletic blocker with tremendous range, Wilkins has been a solid piece in the middle for Concordia Lutheran. She has a tall and efficient blocker and can be hard to stop offensively when she gets into a rhythm as well. Last season, Wilkins tallied 90 kills, 42 blocks and 30 aces with the Crusaders.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bdfd8edee69"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6304060287e4e","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15465565/62cf413e6898841924d10661' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bdfd8edee7c"} /-->