Clash Of Champions Standout Middles
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Some of the top clubs in South Florida competed in the Clash of Champions tournament held in the Broward County Convention center. Lots of talent was being displayed as most of these girls were all competing in their last tournament…
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Continue ReadingSome of the top clubs in South Florida competed in the Clash of Champions tournament held in the Broward County Convention center. Lots of talent was being displayed as most of these girls were all competing in their last tournament before AAU’s and Junior National Championships. Clubs like Miami Volleyball Academy, Miami hype, Tribe, Wildfire, High Voltage, and many more came to compete at this tournament. The following are some Middles that stood out to me during this tournament.
Jackie Taylor
Jackie Taylor
Jackie Taylor is one of those middles that you can tell understands how to score and isn’t looking for the flashy plays but to score. Most middles go up and try to bounce balls straight down and rip through blocks, but not Jackie Taylor. Although she can, she does an amazing job at hitting the ball deep and hitting it hard into those deep corners. When outsides bunch to block her does a great job at turning deep into 1 and vice versa when the right side bunches has a great deep shot to 5. Very athletic with a nice vert on her and does very well at getting from pin to pin quickly and reading setters. She proved to me why she is committed to play Division 1 Volleyball at University of North Carolina.
Izabella Molina
Izabella Molina
Izabella proved to me this past weekend that she can be dominant in the middle at all times. Izabella is very good at tracking balls down and reading allowing herself to get to every block on time and close with her pins allowing her height and athleticism to pose a threat to any hitter trying to hit around her. She has a very heavy arm and strong swing behind her which allows her sometimes to even rip through blocks. She’s a great asset for her team as they are middle heavy and run both her and their other middle a lot in game. Proved she was a smart player as well as most balls that came over on an overpass and she couldn’t get a swing behind she would block downwards to open spots on the court.
Hazel really surprised me this past weekend. First off, probably the tallest player if not one of the tallest down here in south Florida standing at 6’6. Not only is she tall, but is very very dominant from the middle. She is very athletic so finds herself at every pin closing blocks regardless of where the setter sets the ball. Is always up and over and pressed allowing her to get many blocks and if not probably a touch if someone swings anywhere around her. What surprised me the most about her is that yeah everybody knows she can hit well out of the middle, but she was also hitting some balls off of serve receive out of the pins. Her ability as a middle being that tall to move her feet on high balls set to the pin really surprised me and would be exciting to see if that’s a role she’s going to try and take on in the future.
Highlights
Adriana Bridges
Adriana Bridges
Adriana during this weekend had a few plays that just left you in awe. Adriana is a tall middle posing up a big block with also long arms allowing her to put up a big block even if late although its very rare to see her late to a block. She is also very good at reading offense on the other side of the net and reading setters allowing her to get to blocks on time. She is very disciplined and is always up and over pressed onto the other side trying to get blocks. Also great at hitting sharp angles around double blocks when she’s set. These are all valid reasons as to why she’s committed to go play Division 1 Volleyball at Arizona.
Loukia Papadakos Loukia Papadakos 6'3" | MB Cardinal Gibbons | 2024 State FL
Loukia Papadakos Loukia Papadakos 6'3" | MB Cardinal Gibbons | 2024 State FL
Loukia is a very impressive middle blocker with quite a big swing on her. She runs a great push 1 ball and has a long wingspan which allows her to contact balls very high. She’s one of those middles that at any given moment can give you back to back great plays in her 3 rotations then come back after the middle switch and give you another few great plays. It was very exciting watching her play.