High School Team Feature – Ridge Point Panthers
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The high school season is going at full pace in the state of Texas and every team in the state has been on the court enough times for us to have a good idea about what to expect from them.…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season is going at full pace in the state of Texas and every team in the state has been on the court enough times for us to have a good idea about what to expect from them.
Here at PrepDig, we are committed to covering and promoting as many prospects as possible, from the most popular names to the hidden gems that typically abound at the Lone Star State and during the high school season we’re also doing it by featuring the teams they play at.
Every time we’re at the gym, we take the time to give a good look at the teams on the court and we’ll try to feature as many as possible here in this space. Now we’ll take a good look at the Ridge Point Panthers.
The Squad
The Panthers were able to return good part of the core that competed in last year’s State Championship, with the most noticeable exceptions being middle Alexis Roberson, setter/outside hitter Nina Moorer and libero Nylah Raspberry. Outside hitter Sydney Jordan Sydney Jordan 6'3" | OH Ridge Point | 2023 State #44 Nation TX and middle Arissa Smith Arissa Smith 6'1" | MB Ridge Point | 2023 State #105 Nation TX continue to be the team’s cornerstones while some young prospects such as Kennedi Rogers Kennedi Rogers 5'10" | OH Ridge Point | 2025 State #57 Nation TX , Carrington Cook Carrington Cook 5'11" | OH Ridge Point | 2024 State TX and Aaliyah Smith Aaliyah Smith 6'0" | OH Ridge Point | 2025 State TX all grew into larger roles.
Key Players
One of the best players in the entire state last season, Jordan is back for her senior year in an even more central role with the Panthers. An outside hitter that checks every box in terms of size, skills and mindset, she’s a big part of the team’s playing system in every phase of the game. A reliable and consistent passer, Jordan is absolutely lethal at the net, where she uses her length and power, but also her technique and high volleyball IQ to produce in high volume and, most importantly, in big moments. She’s also very calm and positive, offering a positive influence to her younger teammates.
If Jordan is Ridge Point’s reference at the pin, it’s fair to say Smith plays the exact same role in the middle. An extremely physical and dynamic player, she dominates the net with her presence and is the kind of middle blocker who can take a match over with her athleticism. Smith is an outstanding blocker, capable of placing her long arms well across the net and challenging her opponents. She’s also a powerful hitter, who can carry a team’s offense when she finds her rhythm.
Emeli Muagututi’a
Emeli Muagututi’a
A transfer from MacArthur, Muagututi’a arrived in Ridge Point to fill probably the only hole the team had heading into the season at the setter position. Very calm on the court, the 5’9″ playmaker does an excellent job with her distribution, using the right hitters at the right time. She’s also very consistent with her locations, works hard on defense and can cause tremendous impact from the service line with her floaters.
After an outstanding club season with Houston Juniors, Rogers returned to Ridge Point as a much more complete and confident player. She has the potential to be an offensive force with her strong play at the net but is also as solid as it gets on the backcourt, strongly contributing to the team’s success in passing, defense and serving.
In such a loaded roster, the 5’8″ Battle brings value by being able to do a lot of different things well and providing exactly what the team needs. Extremely athletic, she’s a handful at the net because of her leaping ability and the firepower she has on her right arm. But the best part of her game is probably on the backcourt as she’s a productive and talented defender, who’s often deployed as a defensive specialist. The versatile Battle can set as well if that’s what the team needs.