H-Town Showdown #1 – 18s – All-Tournament Team
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Last weekend was a big one for club volleyball in the state of Texas as the season started to get some steam with multiple tournaments popping up all around the state and providing prospects from the Lone Star State with…
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Continue ReadingLast weekend was a big one for club volleyball in the state of Texas as the season started to get some steam with multiple tournaments popping up all around the state and providing prospects from the Lone Star State with a great opportunity to develop and showcase their games.
Although the Tour of Texas Qualifier held in Austin was hands down the highlight of the weekend, the Houston area also had some really good competition at the H-Town Showdown #1, a tournament that reunited 100 teams from three different age groups across three venues in the area.
I was at the Texas Tornados club on Saturday afternoon following the two top brackets of the 18s Division and got to see some familiar faces confirm my thoughts about them and several new ones make a strong impression. I’ve highlighted several players who impressed me over the week, breaking them down in positions, so now I’ll present my All-Tournament Team, reuniting the top performers in the division.
The talented setter was again in great form with HJV 18 Elite, leading the team to an undefeated campaign and a first-place finish in their bracket. Dewine was efficient as usual with her playmaking, distributing accurate sets to her teammates and using her most effective options in key moments. This season she’s taken an even larger role with the team, playing as a hitter (and getting set quite often) when she’ at the net. Dewine also made some really good plays on defense, generating transitions plays for HJV 18 Elite.
Kamryn Phillips
Kamryn Phillips
Phillips stood out among the other right side hitters in the division because of her complete and diversified game with Houston Skyline BCS 18 Royal. A very tall and powerful player, she didn’t limit her game to that and showed excellent technical skills to score with well-placed shots when set off the net. Her blocking was also a big factor as she was able to cause trouble to most opposing outside hitters that got on her way. Phillips also displayed impressive solidness on the backcourt, playing a big role in her team’s serve-receive system.
After spending the entire high school season playing on the right for Tompkins, Tchouangwa went back to her original outside hitter position and showed why she’s one of the top prospects in the state in her age group. She was instrumental to HJV 18 Elite’s success in the division, being the team’s top scoring option while also adding great stability with her passing and coming up big in key moments on defense. Tchouangwa is a very powerful and athletic hitter, but has done a great job in expanding her offensive arsenal and is now capable of consistently scoring in a variety of ways.
A heavy hitter, Snook was the leading scorer in her Texas Tornados 18 Adidas team. She split her time between the left and the right, but regardless of her role, she was the player in the team that saw the ball more often at the net. Snook was highly efficient with hew swings, using her size and power to overcome strong blockers when the team was out of system. She was nearly unstoppable when hitting from middle back too and made some very good defensive plays to help the team as well.
Ava Kennon
Ava Kennon
Kennon was a key player for her HJV 18 Premier team, playing as a true two-way player in the middle and impacting the game on both sides of the ball. She was set quite often when the pass allowed for it and had formidable efficiency hitting a quick set in the middle. Very athletic, Kennon used her physical tools very well when blocking too as she paired her great movement and impressive vertical with her good reading of the game to become one of the top blockers in the event.
Daniels’ explosiveness in the middle was a great asset for HJV 18 Elite during the entire tournament. Her strong offensive approach and her high efficiency when hitting down the middle kept opponents guessing and freed up the team’s pin hitters most of the time. Daniels also did a very good on the defensive side of the game, using her quick feet and excellent athleticism to offer a strong blocking presence for her team. She plays the game with so much intensity that her teammates end up pushing a little more too.
Highlights
Texas Tornados 18 Adidas had a lot of talent at libero with Kliafas and Lauren McIntyre splitting time in the position. Despite not playing 100% of the time, Kliafas made a big impact on the game with steady and reliable passing and her ability to make digs, especially when covering angle from the left back. She’s extremely technical and intelligent and always makes the right decisions, avoiding unforced errors. After doing a great job as a setter for Cy Ranch during the high school season, she also displayed an improved ability to set in transition.