MLK Invitational: 16/17/18 Open – Top Right Sides

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 - know who were the right side hitters who got the job done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486944"],"_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 the versatile Lanton playing on the right, CC Force 161 Crossfire had a solid third-place finish in the 16 Open division, ending the weekend with four wins and four losses. While she wasn't the tallest hitter, she found great success at the net with her impressive vertical and intelligent shot selection - the fact that she could hit several different sets, including some in the middle, also helped her beat opposing blockers. Lanton proved she has a very heavy arm, but was also very smart with her choices, making very few errors. Her blocking was also an asset as she was really good at closing out space above the net.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a98ecc1d6af"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/C2LfdStMT4X","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/C2LfdStMT4X </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["187268"],"_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":"Originally an outside hitter, Valt played on the right this weekend and contributed to Houston Stellar 17 Elite's campaign in the 17 Open division, which had the team getting two wins in seven matches to rank ninth. The new role allowed Valt to focus even more on the offense, possibly her strongest area on the court, and she did a very good job with that. She looked comfortable on the right and displayed an interesting variety of shots and swings to beat the block, besides always making contact with the ball at a very high point.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a98ecc1d724"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15260355/65a87003c1244e052c9d7e25' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a98ecc1d7b9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["269804"],"_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":"Porath and her [program_tooltip program_id='431337' first='Texas' last='Tornados'] 17 Adidas team were ninth in the event with four wins and three losses. The left-handed hitter was the team's go-to scoring option over the weekend and she embraced that responsibility, siding out at a good rate. Porath has been developing her offensive game over the years and that was obvious in the match against PVA 17-B, when even with opponents game planning for her, she could still pull a new shot out of her sleeve to put the ball down, always using her long arms as a weapon. The right side hitter also had a solid blocking presence, getting some stuffs on the match.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a98ecc1d811"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["229048"],"_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 one age group up with [program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston'] 17 Adidas, Hoff helped the team finish fifth in the 17 Open division with three wins and five losses. A lefty, she was a reliable scoring option for her team, finding good angles and doing an excellent job of hitting around the block to put the ball down. Hoff also offered significant defensive contributions, reading the game well at the net and putting pressure on opposing hitters with her blocking. She had good moments from the service line too, getting opponents out of system with her floaters.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a98ecc1d860"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":500819,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/IMG_8824.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-500819" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston'] 17 Adidas vs. K2 17 Adidas Baratas</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["177535"],"_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":"Richardson and her team AVA TX 18 Adidas played in the 18 Open golden bracket final, ranking second after a campaign of six wins and two losses. Splitting her time between hitting and setting duties, she did a good job in both roles, being one of the team's cornerstones over the weekend. Offensively, Richardson showed some interesting new features in her game, as, after emerging as a heavy hitter a few years ago, she had great success with tips and roll shots, indicating she's seeing the court much more efficiently now. She also produced well on defense, getting several digs at the right back position.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a98ecc1d8b3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13818781/65a74f9f9a9b9413b82af30c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a98ecc1d8cf"} /-->