Houston Open 2023 – All-Tournament Team
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One of the biggest private high school volleyball tournaments of the season, the Houston Open 2023 was held last weekend at the Houston Skyline club, reuniting 24 of the best private school teams in the region for two days of…
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Continue ReadingOne of the biggest private high school volleyball tournaments of the season, the Houston Open 2023 was held last weekend at the Houston Skyline club, reuniting 24 of the best private school teams in the region for two days of competition.
Prep Dig was in attendance on Friday and we got to see some really exciting prospects on the court during the day. We’ve taken the last few days to recognize the players who had great performances in their positions and now it’s time to reveal our All-Tournament Team selections:
St. John’s push to play in the golden bracket championship game wouldn’t have been possible without Animashuan steering the ship for the Mavericks. The all-around setter stood out among the players in the position with her very complete and efficient game. Her playmaking was excellent and she made the most of the offensively-talented group of hitters she had to work with by combining creativity and precision in every play she orchestrated. Animashaun was also important for St. John’s offensively and contributed with good defensive plays and solid blocking.
A new face with Concordia Lutheran this season, Herndon was among the team’s most important offensive players over the weekend. She scored at a very good rate from the right and the left and offered her team a viable scoring options at all times. Herndon is very explosive and confident in her game in a positive way as she never backs down or hesitates when she goes up to swing at the net. She also plays with great spirit and brings a positive mood to the team on the court. Very skilled technically, she can also pass and play defense at a good level.
Highlights
One of the best middles in the state, Collins has been splitting time between her original position and the pin in her first season with Episcopal. During the Houston Open, she was an outside hitter and strongly contributed to the team’s victory in the golden bracket. Extremely athletic, Collins was very difficult to stop and her offense was certainly among the very best in the tournament. Her high contact point was a nightmare for those trying to stop her at the net and her powerful swings complicated things for the defenders behind them. Collins looks fully adjusted to her new position offensively and also contributed with her blocking.
St. John’s had a lot of players performing at a very high level over the weekend but Rio was, in several ways, the glue that kept the team together on the court. The Mavericks used a tall and powerful lineup for most of the time and things wouldn’t have worked so well for them if not for Rio’s formidable work. A two-way player, she helped libero Chloe Davis keep serve-receive stable while also producing big digs that gave the team another chance to put the ball down. Rio was also very efficient at the net, using her vision to hit around blockers, put the ball down very consistently and make very few errors.
Highlights
The best middle in Texas in her age group according to our Class of 2026 Prep Dig State Rankings, Minor played exactly like that for her Fort Bend Christian Academy team that finished third in the golden bracket. Her athleticism is truly unmatched and, although she’s been progressing by leaps and bounds in every area of her game, is what sets her apart from other players in the position. Minor connected well with new setter Lauren LeRoux and was really difficult to stop, especially when hitting the slide. Her blocking was also a big asset for the Eagles as it created all sorts of problems for opposing hitters.
Jones had a strong display in the middle for Concordia Lutheran and helped the team rank fourth in the golden bracket. Her leaping ability and quickness made it very difficult for opposing blockers to stop her at the net. The middle has also been working to expand her offensive arsenal and that showed at the Houston Open as she hit several different sets, all of them with great efficiency. Jones was also very productive with her blocking, using her great footwork to quickly get to the pins and getting off the floor very well to make defensive plays above the net.
Mykayla McMillian Mykayla McMillian 5'3" | DS/L Episcopal | 2024 State TX
Mykayla McMillian Mykayla McMillian 5'3" | DS/L Episcopal | 2024 State TX
The dynamic McMillian led Episcopal’s defensive efforts and helped create the conditions for the Knights to triumph in the golden bracket. Besides being a very technical player, the senior libero is also very quick and that makes it a very difficult task for opponents to score on her. McMillian did a very good job with her passing, often covering a large area in serve-receive and also served really tough during the weekend. She’s also excellent at covering her hitters and setting in transition when needed.