Episcopal vs. Grand Oaks – Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The playoffs of the high school volleyball season in the state of Texas are just around the corner as starting on Monday with the bi-district round, the next three weeks will be of pure excitement and high-level competition across the Lone Star State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As teams prepare for the moment of the season where no errors are allowed, some interesting warm-up matches took place on Friday around Texas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was at one of them, in Houston, reuniting the SPC's Episcopal Knights and the UIL's Grand Oaks Grizzlies, two of the top teams in their respective leagues. The Grizzlies, who dominated the Division 6A - District 13 with 16 wins, added yet another win to their impressive 43-1 season record by winning 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18). The Knights, who also went undefeated in their south region with nine wins, have a 31-11 record for the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["318128"],"_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":"The top player in Texas in her age group according to our Class of 2026 Prep Dig State Rankings, Thompson was dominant on the court and a big piece in Grand Oaks' victory. She was nearly unstoppable offensively and displayed all the weapons that made of her one of the most coveted prospects in the country. Very long and explosive, Thompson knew when to beat Episcopal's blockers with her reach, when to overpower their defenders and when to catch them off guard with tips. Even when she was out of system, Thompson was still able to create difficulties for her opponents and to keep her errors very low. The outside hitter was very consistent throughout the match and also did a good job with her passing when she was targeted.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653c6fef92ef4"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":472317,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/IMG_4779.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-472317" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Episcopal vs. Grand Oaks</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["180175"],"_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":"Playing opposite to Thompson, Coleman was equally productive for the Grizzlies. Episcopal simply had no answers to her physicality and athleticism and that allowed her to have a very prolific night offensively. The outside hitter had great success hitting from the left and also set quite often at the middle back position too, displaying great variation with her swings and excellent decision-making. Coleman was also very solid with her passing, keeping Grand Oaks in system when she was the target of Episcopal's servers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653c6fef92f68"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":472331,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/IMG_4857.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-472331" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Episcopal vs. Grand Oaks</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["235997"],"_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":"With both outside hitters very active and efficient in serve-receive, Reece didn't have a lot of work to do with her passing, but responded well every time she was served. Very dynamic on the backcourt, she got a lot of touches on defense and generated transition plays for her team. The sophomore libero also did well when she had to set in transition, often using her hands and going with backsets. Reece had good moments with her serving too, getting Episcopal out of system.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653c6fef92fc9"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":472314,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/IMG_4755.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-472314" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Episcopal vs. Grand Oaks</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":"Jonaida Donowa","_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":"6'0u0022","_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":"Grand Oaks","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Texas Legacy","_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":"The senior middle had an excellent blocking performance, making a major impact at the net for the Grizzlies. Donowa was reading the game very well, which allowed her to quickly get to the pins and get in the way of Episcopal's hitters. She rarely left any gaps in the blocking and did a very good job of quickly placing her hands above and across the net to take up space from opposing hitters. Donowa got several stuffs, several of them against very physical players, and also created a lot of difficulties for her opponents. She didn't get a lot of opportunities to swing, but did a good job when she was set.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653c6fef930ca"} /--> <!-- 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='519527' first='Mykayla' last='McMillian']","_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":"5'3u0022","_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":"Episcopal","_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":"The senior libero took responsibility for her team's serve-receive efforts, covering a lot of ground and sending good passes to her setters for most of the match. McMillian also made some strong defensive plays on the rare occasions Grand Oaks' hitters sent the ball her way. She took control of the backcourt, stepping up to pass free balls and recovering shanked passes and digs from her teammates. McMillian also had some good serving runs and was possibly the only Episcopal player to create problems for their opponents from the service line.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653c6fef93190"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":472308,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/IMG_4719.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-472308" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Episcopal vs. Grand Oaks</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":"Allyson Frailey","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Episcopal","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Third Coast Juniors (Beach)","_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 a difficult afternoon for Episcopal hitters in general having to deal with Grand Oaks' big and efficient blockers, but Frailey was possibly the one to have the most success. Her hitting rate was probably below usual, but the senior made very few mistakes and found good solutions to score, such as hitting sharp angle and tooling the block. She was set at the middle back position quite often too and did a good job with her swings. Frailey also did a fine job with her passing during the match.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653c6fef93224"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":472329,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/IMG_4846.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-472329" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Episcopal vs. Grand Oaks</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->