Lone Star Regionals – 17 Bid – Right Sides
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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.
Right side is the last position we’re going to take a look at and here are the players who shone the brightest:
Helms was a big part of the offense of division winners United VBA 17 Purple, scoring with tremendous consistency from the right. She used her length and power extremely well at the net, at times overpowering opposing blockers and at times going around them, but, most importantly, did what coaches expect from right side hitters at the next level, which is making big plays in big moments. Helms put the ball down in some clutch moments of matches and also did an excellent job with her blocking, stopping at the exact right spot and going up at the right time to get in the way of opposing hitters.
Highlights
Rodriguez was pure power playing on the right of the Alamo 17 Premier team that took third place in the division. There wasn’t a single hittable set that she wouldn’t go with absolutely all he had and on most occasions that worked. Besides being very strong, Rodriguez also used her length well and hit the ball with power in every single direction, keeping opposing blockers and defenders guessing. A very resourceful and skilled player, she also knew how to put the ball down even if she wasn’t in the best condition to swing hard. Her blocking was also an asset as she did a very job when it came to protecting her area of the court.
Anais Velazquez
Anais Velazquez
Capable of playing multiple positions, Velazquez appeared on the right for SA Juniors 17 Adidas and played a big role in the team’s fourth-place campaign. A player with excellent physical tools, she was a force on the right, contributing on both sides of the ball. Her blocking was solid all day as Velazquez was excellent at reading opponents and knowing exactly where she needed to be before going up and making pressure with her arms. She was very strong offensively too and was particularly effective when hitting a quicker and slightly shorter set on the right.
Other Positional Breakdowns:
Ophelia Murphy
Ophelia Murphy
The long and talented Murphy showed great promise playing on the right for a solid STVA 17 Mizuno team that finished seventh. Although her length and athleticism were her main weapons, she also displayed a high volleyball IQ to make decisions when she found herself in difficult situations. Because of that, she had a fairly high-efficiency rate in out-of-system plays, combining her excellent reach and firepower. Murphy was also very active and effective with her blocking, going very high up at the net and using her hands well to create problems for opposing hitters.
Madeline Stuesser
Madeline Stuesser
Stuesser split her time between setting and hitting duties on the right with Roots 171 Green and did a very good job in both roles. A player with good size and excellent technical skills, she was able to contribute in a variety of ways. When at the net, Stuesser used her length and quick arm to overcome opposing blockers and put the ball down. She was also very active with her blocking, especially when dealing with overpasses. At the back, the setter/right side proved to be a strong offensive player, generating several transition opportunities for her team while also running the offense pretty well.