2026s that made a big first impression – Right Sides
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The club season is almost completed now, with only a few tournaments set to take place between now and the season-ending 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship, which will take place in Chicago, from June 28-July 6. The last few…
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Continue ReadingThe club season is almost completed now, with only a few tournaments set to take place between now and the season-ending 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship, which will take place in Chicago, from June 28-July 6.
The last few months were busy ones, with events taking place all over Texas, and I tried to be in as many as I could around the Houston area in order to see the most players possible.
As with any year, the 15s divisions were always intriguing as they contained several prospects we didn’t get to see before and many of them lived up to the expectations or even surpassed them. As we prepare to wrap up another fantastic club season, let’s take a look at some Class of 2026 players that I got to see for the first time over the last few months and who did an excellent job with their club teams. These right side hitters are poised to have bright futures:
It took me just a few minutes watching Hickman in action with HJV 15 Elite back in December at the FAST Warm Up to realize she was the real deal. A lefty with excellent size and sound technical skills, she got even better over the last few months and has established herself as one of the top players in the position in her age group. Hickman’s physical tools play a big role in her strong offense, but it’s her excellent decision-making and her nerves of steel that make of her the efficient player she is. I’ve got to watch her quite a few times over the season and, even in key moments of matches, she always looked clear-headed to make good decisions. The long right side hitter is also a solid blocker, reading opponents well and taking up a lot of space with her long arms.
I first watched Shelby in a match during the high school season and the fact that she stood out in a strong Friendswood team indicated there was something special with her game. During the club season, she moved from outside hitter to right side and that change has made her game even stronger as it not only placed her in a better position to make the most of her offense, but also limited her passing responsibilities. Shelby is very athletic, getting off the floor well and hitting with tremendous power, and plays with a lot of confidence at the net, going up against big blockers. She’s also a very productive blocker, who knows how to get in the way of opposing hitters.
Gabby Estringel
Gabby Estringel
Estringel was in great form at the Nike Cross Court Classic, in March, when she carried the offense of her McAllen Fierce 15-1 team. She has to have one of the highest usage rates among all players I’ve watched this season, getting set on the right, on the middle and even on the backcourt, and it’s amazing that, although every opponent knows she’s getting the ball, she can still score with great consistency. A lefty, Estringel can hit the ball hard but is also great at going around the block and finding open spots. She also makes a positive impact on her team with her tough serving and takes up significant passing responsibilities.
I had seen a little bit of English during the high school season playing with Manvel and her athletic tools really intrigued me. She gets off the floor as well as anyone, but her insane athleticism shows in several other ways when she’s on the court, most notably with how dynamic and quick she is. The Houston Stellar 15 Elite right side is a big offensive threat because she can hit quicker or higher sets and her outstanding body control allows her to adjust to any location. English is also really quick with her arm swing, often beating blockers up at the net or hitting around them. Her blocking has also made significant progress over the last few months and is now another weapon in her game.
Crowley is another talented right side I saw in action at the FAST Warm Up, with her strong TAV Houston 15 Adidas team. One of the first things that stood out to me was how brave and aggressive she was at the net, going with everything to every ball she was set. But she’s not just a heavy-hitter, that swings with power no matter what, as she’s very intelligent with her shot selection and very rarely gets stopped at the net. Despite her offense being the most prominent part of her game, Crowley is a real all-around player, who can pass and play defense and even got to set for her high school team as a freshman.