Alief Elsik vs. Dawson – Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school volleyball season continues to progress at full pace in the state of Texas and, just like that, we're already into the second month of action in the Lone Star State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig will be following the action closely and every match I get to attend will be followed with a Top Performers Report, highlighting the prospects who stood out on the court, and a photo gallery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Tuesday, September 26, I got to watch one of the hottest teams in the Houston area right now, the Dawson Eagles, as they went on the road to battle the Alief Elsik Rams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles had no trouble cruising to a 3-0 (25-7, 25-14, 25-7) win, even heavily rotating their lineup at every set, and got their 16th-straight win and their fifth district victory - their season record is 28-8. The Rams, on the other hand, have now lost each of their five district matches and have a 10-22 season record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1706839523970199913?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1706839523970199913?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Addison Moss","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Dawson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Texas United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"It was business as usual for Moss, who remained focused during the two sets in which she was on the court and led Dawson in her double duty as a setter and right side hitter. Moss, who transitioned to the setter position last season, took full advantage of the several free balls her team got to run a more intricate offense, moving her hitters around. She also split the ball between them very well, keeping all her hitters involved. Moss was also very efficient offensively, doing an excellent job with her shot selection and diversifying a lot of her shots.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65139c24b6198"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1706825917333381363?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1706825917333381363?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["201144"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Dawson's athletic middle had a productive shift, making the most of a very favorable scenario. With so many free balls coming across the net, she was set more frequently than usual and had an excellent hitting rate, fully dominating Elsik's blockers. She was also very intelligent with her blocking, understanding she wasn't facing a team that would always swing, and trying to force opposing hitters to send the ball where she wanted them to, instead of going for stuff blocks. Jones was always alert at the net too and handled some overpasses and oversets with tremendous efficiency.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65139c24b620d"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1706817513336504686?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1706817513336504686?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='530380' first='Jenna' last='Thedford']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Dawson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Houston Skyline","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A match like this one can be a trap for liberos as it's very easy for them to relax and lose focus if they're not being demanded. That wasn't the case with Thedford, who was on the court for the first two sets and did an excellent job in each of her actions. She was great with her passing, covering a lot of ground and delivering precise passes, and also made good plays on defense. Thedford commanded the backcourt very well, often taking responsibility and handling free balls.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65139c24b62a9"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":461833,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/IMG_2269.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-461833" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alief Elsik vs. Dawson</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["442949"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"McFarland did a great job on the two sets she was on the court and contributed to Dawson's victory on both sides of the ball. She had no trouble overcoming Elsik's blockers at the net and scored at a very good rate with her swings. The outside hitter was solid with her passing too and made some nice digs, especially on set three. She also displayed an interesting topspin jump serve, which could become an interesting weapon if she continues to develop it.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65139c24b632d"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":461852,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/IMG_2373.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-461852" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alief Elsik vs. Dawson</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jamya Fields","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Alief Elsik","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Elsik's junior middle blocker was the only player to get Dawson slightly uncomfortable on the court, even if just for a brief while. Fields got a couple of blocks early on set two that fired up her team and that led the Rams to have their best moment in the match. She did what she could against such potent hitters across the net and also contributed on the backcourt, showing interesting passing and defensive skills.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65139c24b63d4"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1706822809631052006?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1706822809631052006?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->