FAST Pre Nationals – Right Sides to Watch
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The month of June has arrived and that means that in just a few weeks the club volleyball season will come to an end, with the best teams in the country competing at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship,…
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Continue ReadingThe month of June has arrived and that means that in just a few weeks the club volleyball season will come to an end, with the best teams in the country competing at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship, which will take place in Chicago, from June 28-July 6.
Preparing for the GJNC is the focus for most teams in the nation now and the ones from Houston and nearby regions will have a great chance to test themselves ahead of the event this weekend at the traditional FAST Pre Nationals tournament, which will take place across the FAST Complex and the Katy United facility on Saturday and Sunday.
It’s a huge tournament, with 104 teams competing across five age divisions, and Prep Dig will be there following the action. Before the tournament begins, however, let’s list some players that will be competing with their teams who are worth your attention. These right side hitters could have big roles with their teams:
Chloe Albright
Chloe Albright
The versatile Albright will appear on the right for AJV 15 Adidas in Pool 4 in the 15s division. She has good size and a quick right arm and uses that combination very well on offense, making contact with the ball at a high point and hitting it around the block or towards the end line. Albright is also a solid blocker, using her length well and timing her jumps to get in the way of opposing hitters. Her all-around game is very well-developed as she plays setter for her high school team Georgetown and also passes at a good level, offering some flexibility to her team.
Carli Briese
Carli Briese
Brise plays right side for the TAV Houston 16 Adidas team that will be on the court in Power Pool 1 in the 16s division. A player with an incredible physical potential, she can be really difficult to stop when she gets into a rhythm. A lefty, Briese not only has good size, but also a quick and heavy arm that she uses to beat blockers and defenders. She does well when hitting higher set at the pin but also thrives when swinging quicker ones right behind the setter. She’s very consistent offensively, making very few mistakes, and also makes a strong impact with her big blocking.
Gabriella Martinez Gabriella Martinez 5'11" | OH Cinco Ranch | 2025 State TX
Gabriella Martinez Gabriella Martinez 5'11" | OH Cinco Ranch | 2025 State TX
Martinez is typically used at right side with the HJV 16 Elite team that will play up in the 17s division, appearing on Power Play 3. She can play on the left too, but seems to feel more comfortable to thrive offensively on the right. Martinez is very explosive with her offense, making a strong approach, jumping well and swinging the ball hard. She has a well-diversified offense, hitting quicker and higher sets, and is very good at scoring with off-speed swings too. The right side hitter is a solid blocker and also makes good plays on defense when needed.
Brinkley plays for the HOU Stellar 17 Premier team that will feature in Pool 5 in the 17s division. A lefty, she gets set a lot and does a very good job of using her physical and technical tools to put the ball down. Brinkley gets off the floor very well and has a talented and powerful left arm, which she uses to hit around blockers and score points on a consistent basis – her line shot is very difficult to stop. Very long, Brinkley also makes a strong impact with her blocking, mostly because of her excellent timing to go up at the net, which puts her in a perfect spot to make plays, especially when dealing with tight sets.
Highlights
Cieslewicz and her Katy United 17 Adidas team will appear in Power Pool 1 in the 17s division. A good jumper, she does well on both sides of the ball, offering her team a strong scoring punch and a solid blocking presence. Cieslewicz’s shot selection and she has the calm and the skills to execute basically any play from the right, from short-angle swings to line roll shots, at a very high level. She’s always very calm on the court and typically delivers in big moments. Cieslewicz is also an efficient server and has the technical tools to help the team with her passing if needed.