Lone Star Regionals – 18s – Middles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the top 18s teams in the state of Texas were in Houston this past weekend, competing in the 2023 Lone Star Regionals, a qualifier for next month's USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/03/lone-star-regionals-18s-photo-gallery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lone Star Regionals - 18s - Photo Gallery</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The bid division had 42 teams in action and Prep Dig was at the FAST Complex on Sunday, following the matches of the gold and silver brackets and taking a look at the best 16 teams in the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're taking the week to point out some players who stood out with their teams and today we'll take a look at some middles who did some solid work at the net:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"India Gantt","_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":"6'2u0022","_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":"Holmes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431254' first='San' last='Antonio Juniors']","_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":"Gantt was the most impressive middle in the division when it came to blocking. Scoring on her SA Juniors 18 Adidas when she was at the net was a difficult task, mostly because of her efficiency in getting in the way of opposing hitters. Gantt's physicality was one of the things that made her presence at the net so strong because besides her good size and long arms, she also has big hands that expand her blocking range. Much of her efficiency, however, came from her ability to react quickly to 50-50 balls at the net and her mobility to get to the pins. She's committed to the University of Dayton.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641919ea1d110"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":349678,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/IMG_5072.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349678" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">TAV Houston 18 Adidas vs. SA Juniors 18 Adidas</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["87548"],"_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":"Few middles in the state of Texas can match Smith's offensive power and that was again in full display on Sunday. The physical middle was unstoppable with division winners HJV 18 Elite and sided out in a key moment in the final, bailing her team out of a strong run from TAV Houston 18 Adidas. Her combination of size and power and her ability to hit different sets is often too much for opposing blockers and defenders. Smith's blocking, which was also a factor in the final, was on point all day as she moved well at the net and was very aggressive with her hands.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641919ea1d1a7"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15378726/6417caa14ba8060440ee9afc' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641919ea1d20a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["122908"],"_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":"Pope was one of the leading scorers in her SA Magic 18 Elite team, offering a reliable offensive option down the middle. She hit all sorts of different sets and was efficient with all of them, starting with a strong approach and ending with a powerful swing. Her blocking was also very effective as Pope was reading the game well, getting to the pin quickly and reacting to plays att the net in no time. She played on the right on some occasions and proved to be a solid option there too, impacting the game with her blocking.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641919ea1d27c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15101635/6418d769a018db04f038e80a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641919ea1d2a5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Positional Breakdowns:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/03/lone-star-regionals-18s-setters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Setters</a> * <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/03/lone-star-regionals-18s-liberos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Liberos</a> * <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/03/lone-star-regionals-18s-outsides/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Outsides</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181367"],"_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 middle with excellent blocking skills, Gotsch patrolled the net for her AVA TX 18 Adidas team. Many could say a player of her size would always impact the game with their blocking, but very few 6'4u0022s have her reading of the game and her mobility at the net. Gotsch made a massive leap in her production during the last high school season and never looked back, looking more and more solid every time I watch her play. While her offense is not quite up there with her blocking, she's pretty efficient too and knows how to make the most of her incredible reach.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641919ea1d312"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1637450102296965120?s=20","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/grtorres/status/1637450102296965120?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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":"Marjorie Johnson","_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":"The Woodlands","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"TAV Houston","_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":"Johnson's high-energy game was often a driving force for TAV Houston 18 Adidas. She brought a lot of intensity to the court and was one of the most consistent players in the division's runner-ups during the day. Johnson was an effective offensive player, going from hard-driven swings to tips depending on the situation. A Colby College commit, she also made a huge impact with her big and aggressive block, getting opposing hitters uncomfortable when they had to face her.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641919ea1d3f4"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14073855/6417634532dc1407f0e4a302' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641919ea1d41e"} /-->