Lone Star Regionals – 18s – Outsides

<!-- 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 our focus this time will be on the outside hitters who played big roles:</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":"Kelli Fording","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"O'Connor","_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":"Fording and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='195824' first='Kitana' last='Tuufuli'] gave SA Juniors 18 Adidas one of the strongest outside hitter combos in the division. The explosive Fording was a reliable scoring option for her team, displaying jaw-dropping athleticism and endless technical resources to overcome blockers and defenders. A St. Edwards University commit, she produced well at either pin and was able to score in moments of high pressure. Fording, who's coming from a brilliant high school season with O'Connor, also showcased some excellent ball control on the backcourt.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641a0dd0e6c22"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/kellifording3/status/1637842063940042752?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/kellifording3/status/1637842063940042752?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141246"],"_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":"Campbell provided some much-needed scoring power to a skilled TAV Houston 18 Adidas team that ranked second in the division. Her length of vertical give her an incredibly high contact point and she takes full advantage of it, being able to overpower or tool even the tallest and strongest blockers. Campbell was consistent during the day and was set quite often at the left and the right. She also held  her own on the backcourt, remaining steady with her passing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641a0dd0e6c98"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17220196/6417634664dfa402147d115c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641a0dd0e6cdd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["99492"],"_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":"The explosive Halstead did very well by leading her team Alamo 18 Premier's offense. Opponents had a hard time battling her at the net because the outside hitter displayed an excellent ability to find gaps and hit around blockers - she was particularly strong and efficient when hitting line. Tall and technical, Halstead also made some strong plays on the backcourt and was one of her team's consistent players during the day. Her blocking was another highlight of her game because of its reach and timing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641a0dd0e6d35"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1637447042824916993?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/1637447042824916993?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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-middles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Middles</a> * <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/03/lone-star-regionals-18s-liberos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Liberos</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141119"],"_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":"SA Magic 18 Elite relied a lot on their outside hitter duo of McAda and Emily Moon and they got excellent production from the two. McAda was particularly impressive because of her offensive efficiency. Tall and athletic, she made contact with the ball at a very high point and was a nightmare for opposing blockers. There's not a single shot McAda doesn't have and the best of it is that she knew when to use each of them to put the ball down.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641a0dd0e6d8e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17312835/64187e61f3275f04dca47595' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641a0dd0e6dac"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["87562"],"_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":"An excellent all-around player, Garza was a steady presence at the pin for AVA TX 18 Adidas. Her calm and quality on the ball were of great importance to the team as she made good plays on both sides of the ball. Garza is very strong at the net, combining the blocking efficiency of the former middle she is with impressive explosiveness on offense. She's also a very intelligent player, who makes good decisions even when under pressure and that adds a lot to her game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641a0dd0e6df8"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":349687,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/IMG_5169.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349687" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HJV 18 Elite vs. AVA TX 18 Adidas</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->