Houston Open Previews – Outside Hitters
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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).
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.
Until the start of the tournament, we’ll present some of the most promising prospects that will be in action this week, and now it’s time we list some of the top outside hitters.
A 5’10” outside hitter with the defensive skills of a libero, a position she frequently plays at the club level, Bulow is one of the key pieces of defending champions Fort Bend Christian Academy. Her two-way game is a real asset for her team as the dynamic and talented Bulow is capable of heavily impacting the game on both sides of the ball. Entering just her second season of high school volleyball, Bulow already has 284 kills, 307 digs, 541 passes and 103 aces to her name.
Highlights
An athletic and versatile prospect, Stephenson can play on the right or the left and even set for her high school team St. Agnes Academy. She’s developed into an excellent beach player and has a very complete game. Stephenson is very strong offensively and her 6’3″ frame certainly plays a big part in efficiency at the net, but she’s also very technical and smart with her shot selection. Last year, she registered 319 kills and 46 blocks.
Rylee Henderson Rylee Henderson 5'11" | RS Concordia Lutheran | 2024 TX
Rylee Henderson Rylee Henderson 5'11" | RS Concordia Lutheran | 2024 TX
An offensive-minded pin hitter, Henderson is another prospect who can play on either side of the net. Her attacking power is her main asset and, because of that, she’s more comfortable on the right, where she can focus more on her offense and also hit quick sets. Henderson is very long at 5’10” but also very powerful with her hits, in great part because of her strong approach. She’s also a player who will score in big moments of matches.
Emma Poirot
Emma Poirot
An extremely skilled prospect with a productive and consistent game, Poirot is not the strongest offensive player but she is extremely important defensively for the team with her ability to pass and dig at a very high level. Also capable of playing as a defensive specialist, the 5’7″ Poirot had a highly-productive season in 2021, tallying 128 kills, 384 digs, 481 passes and 31 aces.
Another defensive-minded pin hitter, the 5’8″ Laing emerged as a very interesting player during the last season. She’s very efficient offensively, finding ways to score despite her limited size, most of the time with well-placed tips or by hitting around the block. She’s an even more productive player on the backcourt, where her technical skills and intelligence really show when she’s playing defense or passing.