Pearland John Turner Classic – Five Players to Watch
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The start of district play is approaching in the Texas high school volleyball season and this week features a lot of preseason tournaments, reuniting dozens of teams from the Lone Star State in highly-competitive matches that are used to fine-tune…
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Continue ReadingThe start of district play is approaching in the Texas high school volleyball season and this week features a lot of preseason tournaments, reuniting dozens of teams from the Lone Star State in highly-competitive matches that are used to fine-tune their games ahead of the beginning of their calendars.
One of them is the Pearland John Turner Classic, which will count on the presence of teams from several regions in the state for three days of action, between Friday and Sunday. The tournament will have 48 teams and will be held in two clubs in the Houston area, the Absolute Volleyball Academy, in Webster, and the Texas United, in Pearland.
Here are five players that will be in action in the tournament that are worth your attention:
One of the key pieces in Dripping Springs’ State Championship-winning campaign last year, when she was a freshman, Anderson will be back with likely even an increased role in the team’s offensive system. An outside hitter with great length and tremendous power, she’s probably going to look even better on the court after a productive club season with Austin Performance. Anderson impressed with her excellent decision-making when up at the net but also showed the technical skills to make strong plays on defense and is one of the most exciting prospects in the entire country in her age group.
Morgan is one of the main players in a strong Barbers Hill team that continues to be a force in the Houston area. A middle with solid physical tools, she uses her length to dominate the net on both sides of the ball. A potent and efficient offensive player, she can be really difficult to stop at times. Her blocking is also very strong as she reads the game extremely well and manages to get a lot of touches up at the net. Morgan also stands out for her strong technical skills, which allow her to make efficient moves when she has to set or play defense.
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Kazmierski has been an excellent setter in the Austin area, playing for Lake Travis and her club team Austin Juniors. She connects well with all of her hitters, makes good decisions with her ball distribution and understands the game very well. Because of her size and physical tools, Kazmierski can also take on hitting duties, allowing her team to play in a 6-2 system. As a senior, she’ll have an even larger role with her strong Lake Travis team, leading them during the season.
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The high-scoring Lewis has been a stud for The Woodlands in her two seasons with the team. A very complete player, she delivers on both sides of the ball and contributes to the success of her team in a variety of ways. Lewis is a very dynamic offensive player, who’s very explosive in her approach and a heavy hitter, but she can also mix things up and catch opponents off guard with her tips. She’s also very efficient with her passing and a tough server and produces with great consistency even when under pressure.
Highlights
Carter offers a very tall and strong presence in the middle, but it’s her impressive mobility that makes of her such a special player. Her feet move extremely well on the court and that allows her to move very quickly from pin to pin when blocking and also to have a great deal of efficiency on offense, as she is great at adjusting to difficult passes and finding the right spot to start her approach. Carter can also be a threat from the service line, making contact with the ball at a high point and hitting it hard with her floater.