MLK Invitational: 16/17/18 Open – Top Outsides

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past weekend, Houston hosted a massive national-level club tournament, the 2024 MLK Invitational, which featured more than 250 teams from several states, with two of the three days of the event taking place at the NRG Center in Downtown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas was represented with multiple teams in every division and some of the most exciting prospects of the Lone Star State got to go on the court and battle teams from other states over three days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/01/mlk-invitational-16-17-18-open-photos/">MLK Invitational: 16/17/18 Open - Photos</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Monday, Prep Dig was at the NRG Center, following the Texas teams that competed in the 16 Open, 17 Open and 18 Open golden brackets. Several players caught our attention and this week we'll feature them, starting with the outside hitters:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486938"],"_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 her solid all-around game, Green led her team CC Force 161 Crossfire to a third-place finish in the 16 Open division, getting four wins and four losses. The team's most effective offensive player, she combined power and precision at the net, swinging at a very good rate from the left and the right and making good decisions with her shot selection. Green also played a major role in the team's serve-receive system and got several touches defending the middle back position.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6d378b0eb9"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":500844,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/IMG_9030.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-500844" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">CC Force 161 Crossfire vs. FaR Out 16 Black</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212725"],"_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":"Rogers was again the centerpiece of her AVA TX 17 Adidas team that ranked third in the 17 Open division, collecting seven wins and just two losses. Extremely explosive and technical, she was very solid at the net, hitting a quicker set to beat the block when in system and using her power to put the ball down when opponents were ready for her. Rogers also did a very solid job with her passing, being targeted by opponents at times and handling it well and remaining consistent. She was on and off with her topspin jump serve, getting some aces and getting opponents out of system, but also making errors.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6d378b0f22"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18894003/65a6c56690f9b20b40d7ac0a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6d378b0fc0"} /--> <!-- 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":"Kennedy Pike","_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":"5'11u0022","_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":"Katy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431337' first='Texas' last='Tornados']","_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 athletic Pike was one of the leading scorers of her [program_tooltip program_id='431337' first='Texas' last='Tornados'] 17 Adidas team that had four wins and three losses to rank ninth in the 17 Open division. The high-jumping outside hitter had to face big blocks most of the time during the match against PVA 17-B and found ways to score, hitting a beautiful line shot at times and tooling the block on other occasions. Pike also had a good impact with her blocking, getting off the floor well and putting pressure on opposing hitters. She had ups and downs with her passing, but wasn't aced very often, managing to at least send a high pass to the center of the court when she had issues.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6d378b1071"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1746898978048815165?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/1746898978048815165?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["269658"],"_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":"McKee was very effective for [program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston'] 17 Adidas and helped the team end the tournament in fifth place in the 17 Open division with three wins and five losses. She used her length extremely well at the net, finding gaps to beat the block and keeping her errors very low. McKee was seeing the game very well and finding good solutions to difficult plays and managed to put the ball down in important moments. She also did fine with her passing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6d378b10cd"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":500831,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/IMG_8952.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-500831" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston'] 17 Adidas vs. Adidas KIVA 17 Red</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='519543' first='Emma' last='Dunwoody']","_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":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Stratford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Absolute Volleyball Academy","_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 middle blocker with her high school team Stratford, Dunwood was excellent at the pin with AVA TX 18 Adidas and was one of the reasons why the team finished second in the 18 Open division with six wins and just two losses. Her passing was excellent all day and she played a major role in it, helping keep the team in system and freeing up the other hitters. Dunwoody was very consistent overall and that showed mostly on her offense as she made excellent choices, hitting around the block and scoring off of tips. Her blocking also earned her team points in key moments.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6d378b1178"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15141979/65a61a3c90f9b20b40d67828' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6d378b11ab"} /-->