AVC 18’s National Qualifier – Middles to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>President's Day weekend is always one to be circled in red in the club volleyball season calendar and, between Saturday and Monday, all eyes will justifiably be turned to the NIT Triple Crown, one of the most prestigious events of the year, which will reunite as many as 7,000 prospects from the entire country in Kansas City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dallas Convention Center, however, will also be hosting an important event this weekend with the 2023 AVS 18's National Qualifier taking place from Friday to Sunday and will serve as a qualifier for the 2023 USAV Girls 18s National Championship, which will be held in Columbus, Ohio, at the end of April.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As many as 136 teams from Texas and other states are entered to compete in the four divisions (18 Open, 18 USA, 18 Liberty and 18 American) and in those teams are some of the most talented class of 2023 prospects in the state of Texas. As we warm up for the event, we're taking a look at some of the most talented players who will be on the court and this time we'll feature the middles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141128"],"_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":"There will be a handful of middles in the 18 Open division standing 6'2u0022 or taller, but not many will be able to match up with TAV 18 Black's Pfiffner. That's because, besides her length, she's also incredibly athletic and mobile, a benefit of being a two-time high jump state champion. Pfiffner's excellent footwork helps her tremendously when blocking as she not only has the quickness, but also the body control to adjust to any situation. Her offense is very powerful too as she goes up high and hits very quick sets.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a219c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15035194/636b76144210b6012ca65b03' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a2205"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["87538"],"_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":"Another of the top class of 2023 middles in Texas according to our Prep Dig State Rankings, Sampson is with a new club this season and will play in the 18 USA division with Texas Legacy 18 Elite. A very physical and athletic player, she's back in the middle after playing as an outside hitter during the last high school season with Klein. Sampson is a phenomenal blocker, who gets off the ground quickly and makes strong and fast movements with her arms to stop opponents. She's also a very strong offensive player, who uses her physical power and excellent footwork to thrive at the net.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a2287"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16939837/63e1bf81e984c9058424dffd' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a22b0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["87568"],"_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":"Cummings is another middle who switched clubs, joining Austin Juniors - she'll be with AJV 18 Molten in the 18 Liberty division. She has very long arms and is very dynamic in the middle, making a strong impact on both sides of the ball. Cummings' blocking is really effective as she reads the game well and jumps high enough to affect opponents when they go up to swing against her. Her offensive is also very solid as Cummings make contact with the ball at a very high point and often hits is straight down, out of the reach of defenders.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a2329"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14308140/63c904b2ff0ca71648549bd5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a2351"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Allison Layton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Rudder","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Houston Skyline BCS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Layton will be one of the cornerstones of her Houston Skyline BCS 18 Royal team that will compete in the 18 Liberty division. She's listed at 6'1u0022 but looks significantly taller because of the length of her arms and provides a noticeable presence at the net. Layton is a very good blocker, who uses her arms very well to take up space at the net and plays aggressively. Her offense is also very productive as her reach makes it very difficult for opponents to stop her when in system.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a2440"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13011376/634fa0b915f64e1770e428f7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a246c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Rachel Nordt","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fulshear","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Houston Stars","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Nordt is one of a handful of solid players who moved to the Houston Stars club this season and will be action with their 18 Adidas team in the 18 American division. A six-footer, she delivers a lot at the net, being a reliable offensive player and a solid blocker, but what makes of her an interesting player to watch is her all-around game. Nordt is also capable of playing as an outside hitter at a high level and is very well-versed with her passing and defensive duties. She' also very calm and focused and often offers some positive leadership to her teammates.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a2549"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14508758/63d2c8d59a91001128ca31a3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ea6260a2574"} /-->