Red Rock Rave Qualifier – Texas Middles to Watch
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Qualifying for the 2023 USA Girls Junior National Championship continues to be the main goal for club volleyball teams from the entire country, who have been flying around the US to compete in qualifiers and hopefully secure their spot in…
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Continue ReadingQualifying for the 2023 USA Girls Junior National Championship continues to be the main goal for club volleyball teams from the entire country, who have been flying around the US to compete in qualifiers and hopefully secure their spot in the biggest event of the season.
This coming weekend, some of the top teams from Texas will make the trip West in order to take part in the traditional Red Rock Rave Qualifier in Las Vegas, which will be held from Saturday to Monday at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
The event will serve as a qualifier for the Open, American, Liberty and USA divisions in the 16s, 17s and 18s age groups. As we get ready for it, let’s know some of the most talented players from the Lone Star State who will be in action in the Open divisions. Today we’ll highlight some middles.
A TAPPS State Champion with Prestonwood Christian Academy, Washington has been flying high with TAV 16 Black in the club season – her team will compete in the 16 Open division in Vegas. A middle with jaw-dropping physical tools, Washington has done an excellent job of shaping her game to make the most of her athleticism. She’s really strong on offense and truly unstoppable at times when hitting the slide set. Washington can also hit a quick set in the middle with great efficiency. Her blocking is also very effective because of her great mobility and jumping ability.
Highlights
Taylor will provide a solid presence in the middle for HJV 16 Elite in the 16 Open division. She first emerged as a prospect with excellent size and very high potential, but has been, year after year, developing her game and becoming more of the player people expect her to become. Taylor has always been an outstanding blocker and she just continues to get better in that area as she becomes more athletic and mobile and makes a better reading of the game. Her offense has also improved in leaps and bounds as if in the past she only score because of her high contact point, now she can hit several different sets at a very high rate.
Alyssa Boyte
Alyssa Boyte
Capable of playing anywhere at the net, Boyle has been featuring in her her original middle position with Areté 17 Navy Telos and will compete in the 17 Open division. She’s extremely prolific as a blocker thanks to her excellent reading of the game and her ability to get off the floor very quickly. I love that she doesn’t cut any corners with her offensive approach, always moving from the middle and starting from there as that gives her full power and allows her to give a good look at opposing blockers and defenders. A very good server, Boyte played as an outside hitter during the last high school season and developed her backcourt skills.
The top middle blocker and the second-best-ranked player in our Class of 2024 Prep Dig State Rankings, Ames will lead Drive Nation 17 Red in the 17 Open division. She’s a beast in the middle, who typically overpowers her opponents with her excellent physical and technical tools. Ames has everything in terms of size, power and coordination and is a phenomenal offensive player and also an excellent blocker, but has a lot more in her game, especially after she played outside hitter during the last high school and had excellent production with her passing and defense as well.
Bull will be one of the strong middles to feature in the Houston Skyline 18 Royal team that will compete in the 18 Open division. She’s a very good blocker, combining good length, mobility and reading at the net, but what truly sets her apart from other players in the position is her scoring ability. Bull is really productive when it comes to scoring, be it in terms of efficiency or volume, and can play a big role in any team’s offense. She carried the offense of her high school team Magnolia during the last high school season and can very important at the club level too.