The Best Hands at Tour of Texas: c/o 2025
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We already know the class of 2025 is a competitive group. The 15 Open championship was brutal, and a Texas team took first place home. Now, these athletes are back another year wiser and faster, and the slugfest has begun.…
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Continue ReadingWe already know the class of 2025 is a competitive group. The 15 Open championship was brutal, and a Texas team took first place home. Now, these athletes are back another year wiser and faster, and the slugfest has begun. There are some pivotal players on each of these teams who help steer the ship in the right direction: the setters.
Takyla Brown Takyla Brown 5'9" | S Weiss | 2025 State #150 Nation TX /// AJV 16 Adidas
A favorite in the Austin area is Takyla Brown Takyla Brown 5'9" | S Weiss | 2025 State #150 Nation TX , who is currently #25 in our Prep Dig rankings for the class of 2025. Her speed and quick jump set definitely set her apart from the crowd. While she may be on the shorter side, Takyla more than makes up for it in her level of play and confidence. She can absolutely run the floor in a 5-1 rotation and we have seen her run it well plenty of times. I also love her ability to distribute the ball to her hitters who are on.
Arianna Reyna /// Areté 16 Navy Telos
Feisty setter Arianna Reyna is new to me this season, but after her success in high school this year at Forney, she should be on our radar. She is surrounded by a very good Areté lineup. She is a playmaker through and through. She is constantly looking for ways to reverse the flow or set the ball that will throw opposing defenses off guard. She is pretty successful in her strategy too.
Caelyn Dumas Caelyn Dumas 5'10" | S Tompkins | 2025 State TX /// AVA 16 Adidas
I have been following Caelyn Dumas Caelyn Dumas 5'10" | S Tompkins | 2025 State TX ever since her high school premier at Paetow. Being a new program, Paetow didn’t get a lot of attention at first, which I think benefited Caelyn and the program because they were able to play and learn with no pressure. Since then, Caelyn has improved each season and is a leader on the floor. She caught everyone’s attention at the Top 250 Expo in Houston, where she was praised for her ball distribution and hustle.
Hannah Beauford Hannah Beauford 5'11" | S Prosper | 2025 State #99 Nation TX /// Drive Nation 16 Red
Hannah Beauford Hannah Beauford 5'11" | S Prosper | 2025 State #99 Nation TX is sitting at #21 right now in the Prep Dig rankings for her class. She makes this list for several reasons. One is for her ability to get the ball to the playmakers. If she has a hot hitter, she makes ways to get them the ball. She isn’t afraid of movement and will move her middles around and dish the ball all over the net. Secondly for her defensive capabilities at the net. She’s a strong blocker with a fast turn around time to find the ball and distribute it out.
Alexys James Alexys James 5'10" | S Fulshear | 2025 State TX /// Houston Skyline 16 Black
I appreciate Alexys James Alexys James 5'10" | S Fulshear | 2025 State TX ‘ positive attitude on the court while maintaining a competitive atmosphere. Her positivity is contagious to teammates. This athlete is full of hustle and fight, and her hands are beautiful to top it off. She comes from a very disciplined high school team from Fulshear, that has a culture of winning and doing your best, and Alexys is a product of that. After watching her at the Top 250 Expo in Houston, she definitely left us wanting to see more of her throughout the year.
Taylor Cook Taylor Cook 5'11" | S Prestonwood Christian Academy | 2025 State #87 Nation TX /// Skyline 16 Royal
I really enjoy Taylor Cook Taylor Cook 5'11" | S Prestonwood Christian Academy | 2025 State #87 Nation TX ‘s range of skills she shows off every time she plays. She sits at #8 in our Prep Dig rankings and for good reason. Taylor can one-handed tee up her middle on a tight ball, slide into a set from her knees, run and jump set a ball 13 feet off the net, she is amazing to watch athletically. She does a fantastic job running a 5-1, staying confident and consistent. She has a very athletic front row of hitters to work with, and I love watching her connection with her middles on the slide.
Kaia Thiele Kaia Thiele 5'11" | S Cornerstone Christian | 2025 State TX /// Alamo 16 Premier
National champion Kaia Thiele Kaia Thiele 5'11" | S Cornerstone Christian | 2025 State TX is returning to this highly competitive Alamo squad. If you are looking for a setter with major consistency, you have found your stopping point. Kaia seems like an under-the-radar player at first, because she is surrounded by so much tall offensive talent, but she is definitely driving the ship for this team. She seems small on the court next to her teammates’ size, but she definitely is not. Standing at 5’10, she can turn around and be a right-side attacker and is very effective at that as well.