Houston Stop 2 Top 250 Expo Top Performers: Liberos – Vol. 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's Prep Dig Top 250 Expo stop in Houston, the second in two weeks held in H-Town, has completed the Series' extensive schedule of 14 events, which involved more than 1,500 players, providing them with high-level reps and much-needed exposure as they continue their volleyball journeys.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a ton of talent at the gym and, as we do in each event of the series, it's time to give a shoutout to some of the players who stood out the most. My colleague and fellow Prep Dig scout Mallori Howington has already shared <a href="https://prepdig.com/2022/12/houston-stop-2-top-250-expo-top-performers-liberos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">her selections for the liberos/defensive specialists</a>, but there were so many great players in that position in action that I'll bring more names to the table.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["216504"],"_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":"I was already very familiar with Spell's game after watching her play for both her high school Langham Creek and her club [program_tooltip program_id='431166' first='Houston' last='Juniors'] and she certainly didn't disappoint. Spell is one those liberos that make the game look easy with her high volleyball IQ. She's always one step ahead and keep things simple whenever possible. She also does a lot of the little things you'd look for in a libero such as covering her hitters and setting well in transition.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63a1d3334d9d4"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["251508"],"_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":"A very dynamic libero, Cotten stood out early on, still during warmups, with her high energy and determination to chase a ball. She never gives up on a play on defense and has excellent agility and ball control, getting a lot of touches on the backcourt. Cotten does a very good with her first contact in general and did well when she was served during the scrimmages. I also saw her setting at a very good level during the event.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63a1d3334da3f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["194840"],"_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":"I had last watched Gudino play nearly a year ago and it was great to see how her game has improved since then - and the amount of work she's certainly put on to make it happen. She has always been very clean on the ball and displayed excellent technique, but she looks stronger and faster on the court now, getting to ball perhaps she wouldn't in the past. Another thing I really like about her game is how calm she is on the court, no matter what's going on. Gudino can play outside hitter too and is pretty efficient offensively.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63a1d3334da95"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/IsabelleGudino/status/1604538854110859272?s=20u0026amp;t=gShhnfkLLHonhJz-87koDg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/IsabelleGudino/status/1604538854110859272?s=20u0026amp;t=gShhnfkLLHonhJz-87koDg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254133"],"_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":"Johnson is a player that stands out in every aspect of the game. She's been playing (very well) as a defensive specialist/libero, but could easily move somewhere else and also do well - she was really impressive during warmups, hitting from the left and even the middle. As a long defender, she gets to balls not many others would and is very precise and consistent with her plays. Johnson also has an incredible personality, which makes everyone around her feel well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63a1d3334daec"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/Carly_1220/status/1604187446350348288?s=20u0026amp;t=gShhnfkLLHonhJz-87koDg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/Carly_1220/status/1604187446350348288?s=20u0026amp;t=gShhnfkLLHonhJz-87koDg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["259919"],"_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":"Hampton started the event on fire, jumping straight on the court to demo the first defensive drill and never looked back. She kept her incredible energy all the way to the end and stood out among the other liberos/defensive specialists. Hampton is a player that gives everything she has on every play and is always more than willing to give the extra step to make a better play. She also does a very good in tracking plays and gets to recover several balls.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63a1d3334db42"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/MalloriHowie/status/1604135333888544768?s=20u0026amp;t=gShhnfkLLHonhJz-87koDg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/MalloriHowie/status/1604135333888544768?s=20u0026amp;t=gShhnfkLLHonhJz-87koDg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->