Lone Star Regionals – 17 Bid – Outsides
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The George R. Brown Convention Center, in downtown Houston, was packed over the weekend with 80 volleyball courts, which staged the traditional Lone Star Regionals tournament, a national qualifier that attracted numerous teams from Houston and other cities in Texas,…
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Continue ReadingThe George R. Brown Convention Center, in downtown Houston, was packed over the weekend with 80 volleyball courts, which staged the traditional Lone Star Regionals tournament, a national qualifier that attracted numerous teams from Houston and other cities in Texas, such as Austin and San Antonio.
I was in attendance on Sunday morning, following the gold bracket of the 17 Bid division, where the eight best teams in the group battled for a good finishing spot. There was plenty of talent on the courts and I’m taking the week to highlight the players that stood out in their positions.
This time we’ll highlight some outside hitters who thrived with their teams:
Emmerling was a scoring machine for division runners-up TAV Houston 17 Adidas, putting the ball down at ease at the pin. Very long and explosive, she was a tough matchup for anyone trying to stop her at the net as besides making the most of her athletic tools, she also displayed a well-diversified and intelligent offense. Emmerling is also a very technical player and had a big role in the team’s serve-receive system. Playing with great consistency throughout the day, she also had some good serving runs, getting aces and forcing opponents to play out of system.
Highlights
Despite playing one age group up, Allen was still one of the most impressive players in the division, helping her SA Juniors 17 Adidas team secure a fourth-place finish. Her technical skills are truly impressive and on several occasions she made plays look easier than they actually were with how smoothly she was able to perform them. Allen displayed outstanding ball control, playing a big role in the team’s passing and defense. The pin hitter was also in high demand at the net, using her power, athleticism and finesse to score over and over again.
Highlights
Church’s firepower at the pin was huge for division winners United VBA 17 Purple, especially when they couldn’t use their productive middles. Very strong and athletic, she was also excellent at getting up at the net and deciding where to go with her swings, often finding gaps in the block and open spots to score. Church was set quite a lot at the pin and scored at a very high rate, while also making very few mistakes along the day. She got to contribute with much more than her offense and her consistency too, as her passing also helped to keep the team going during the day.
Highlights
Other Positional Breakdowns:
* Setters * Middles * Liberos/DS
Recently recovered from a severe knee injury, Cavazos wasted no time getting back in form and played a big role with her STVA 17 Mizuno team that earned a solid seventh place this past weekend. She displayed great technical skills and an impressive volleyball IQ every time she was set, finding ways to score against much-taller blocks and well-organized defenses. Cavazos’ technical skills are a great part of her team as they rely on her to deliver with her pass and defense and she did just that, as well as leading the team with her energetic play.
Highlights
Alamo 17 Premier’s high-flying pin hitter was in excellent form during the day, being one of the players that best combined athletic and technical skills on the court. Walker is very sound technically and because of that she was very active with her passing and when playing defense on the backcourt. When at the net, Walker would go toe-to-toe with anyone, using her impressive vertical to get really high and incredible hangtime to swing in the best possible moment. She swung hard when fed her preferred shoot set at the pin, but also showcased impressive resources to put the ball down with tips and roll shots when needed.