Thursday’s Big Match-Ups at KISD/CFISD Tournament
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Tournament season is upon us in Texas. Thursday starts the kick-off for tournaments all over the state, and some of the biggest names in volleyball will get the chance to showcase their talents over 3 days. The KISD/CDISD Nike Invitation…
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Continue ReadingTournament season is upon us in Texas. Thursday starts the kick-off for tournaments all over the state, and some of the biggest names in volleyball will get the chance to showcase their talents over 3 days. The KISD/CDISD Nike Invitation Tournament starts on Thursday at 6 locations around the greater Houston area. In one of the most competitive tournaments of the pre-season, teams from all around Texas will travel to compete. Below we will analyze some of the biggest match-ups and the players that you should be keeping an eye on.
Canyon vs. Cedar Park
Playoff rivals Comal Canyon and Cedar Park will meet in the early pre-season Thursday at 3:15 at Katy High School. It will be a battle of the middles as Canyon has a trove of big middle blockers with Courtney Pope Courtney Pope 6'2" | MB Canyon | 2023 State TX , Kloey Cato, and Josslyn Abel Josslyn Abel 6'0" | MB Canyon | 2024 State TX . Cedar Park’s block leader Nia Cummings Nia Cummings 5'11" | MB Cedar Park | 2023 State TX will have to account for those players which shouldn’t be a problem with her career 154 blocks. The libero matchups will be Callie Krueger Callie Krueger 5'5" | DS/L Cedar Park | 2025 State #22 Nation TX , Canyon’s sophomore libero, and one of the best passers in the state, and Cedar Parks Isabell Woo. The heavy hitting Maya Jones Maya Jones 6'1" | RS Canyon | 2023 State TX will be back on the right side for Canyon and she will have to watch out for 6 rotation setter Dylan Gilkey Dylan Gilkey 5'8" | S Cedar Park | 2023 State TX for Cedar Park.
Bridgeland vs. Klein
Two 6A powerhouse programs Bridgeland and Klein will face off for the first time this season Thursday at 3 pm at Bridgeland High School. Bridgeland will have to put up a big right-side block up against Klein’s outside hitter Rachel Heilbrun. Rachel had 259 kills last season and hit a lot out of the back row as well. Bridgeland’s 6’0 right side Amelia Creacy Amelia Creacy 6'1" | RS Bridgeland | 2024 State TX may be able to fill that position for the Bears. Klein will also have to defend Bridgeland’s stud outside hitters Olivia Waggoner and Kennedy Kays Kennedy Kays 6'2" | OH Bridgeland | 2023 State TX . If Klein wants to be successful they will also have to use North Carolina A&T commit Mikala Sampson Mikala Sampson 6'1" | MB Klein | 2023 State #109 Nation TX .
Tompkins vs. Klein Collins
Tompkins and Klein Collins is a great matchup. Collins can put up a sizable block against Tompkin’s stack of hitters. Obviously Tompkins will have to use Cindy Tchouangwa Cindy Tchouangwa 5'11" | OH Tompkins | 2023 State #45 Nation TX and Skylar Skrabanek Skylar Skrabanek 6'1" | OH Randle | 2024 State TX for a lot of offense on the outside position and Collins has some great blockers like senior middle Ariana Goode Ariana Goode 6'0" | MB Klein Collins | 2023 TX who had 78 total blocks last year, and 6’1 right side Anna Blaine Anna Blaine 6'1" | S Concordia Lutheran | 2024 State TX . Both teams also have excellent setters. For Tompkins its senior Presley Powell, who is committed to the Colorado School of Mines. Collins has an up-and-coming sophomore setter Carleigh Schluter Carleigh Schluter 5'9" | S Concordia Lutheran | 2025 TX who played up in age level last club season. Expect to see her dishing out a lot of the offense.
Grand Oaks vs. Stratford
Grand Oaks and Stratford is an interesting match-up being that it’s mostly a young vs. seasoned squad. Grand Oaks does have some experience with junior middle Jaela Auguste Jaela Auguste 6'0" | MB Grand Oaks | 2024 State #17 Nation TX , and junior setter Audrey Terry Audrey Terry 5'6" | S Grand Oaks | 2024 TX , but some of their best offense and defense is coming from their sophomores and freshman. Defending the Florida commit Jaela will be Stratford’s senior libero Olivia Abbott Olivia Abbott 5'7" | OH Stratford | 2023 TX . Olivia is scrappy on defense and makes you work to score on her. She will also have to pay attention to 6’0 freshman outside hitter Halle Thompson Halle Thompson 6'1" | OH Grand Oaks | 2026 State TX and 6 rotation outside hitter Samara Coleman Samara Coleman 6'0" | OH Grand Oaks | 2025 State #74 Nation TX . Stratford’s 6’3 middle Sharlotte McClintock Sharlotte McClintock 6'3" | MB Stratford | 2023 State TX should help out on the block as well as senior opposite hitter Sophia Cornell. Stratford’s Skylar George Skylar George 6'1" | OH Stratford | 2023 State TX will be getting a lot of hitting opportunities from the outside, and Grand Oak’s freshman libero Cali Reece Cali Reece 5'5" | DS/L Grand Oaks | 2026 State TX will have to step up. Catch this game Thursday at 9:00 am at Cy-Woods High School.
Fort Bend Austin vs. Tomball Memorial
Both of these teams are reloading after big offensive losses. Austin will have to put more balls in the hands of outside Carli Banks and middle Ellie Pringle. Returning for Tomball Memorial is senior libero Astyn Casey who will have to defend those two. Tomball Memorial’s Tanner Charron Tanner Charron 5'8" | OH Tomball Memorial | 2024 TX will return as the outside hitter. Standing at only 5’8, Tanner plays with so much aggressiveness and has really worked on her game at the net. Austin’s two setters will return to run the show, and both are very good in their own respects. Assist leader Kyla Paulino will have to make sure Austin’s offense is on point to pull out a win over Tomball Memorial. You can watch this game at 12:45 at Cinco Ranch High School.
After Thursday’s pool play is complete, teams will be re-seeded for Friday’s pool play. Check back here to see Friday’s best match-ups!