MLK Invitational: Five Liberos to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Martin Luther King weekend is always one to circle in the club volleyball season calendar and it's no different in Texas as the Lone Star State is set to host a big event in the upcoming three-day weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLK Invitational will take as many as 279 club teams from several different states to the NRG Center, in Houston, for three days of action and a great opportunity to display their skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig will be following the action over the weekend, but before we get there, let's take a look at some talented Texas prospects who will be on the court. Keep an eye on these liberos as they work hard on the backcourt:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254251"],"_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 electric Hooper will be playing defense this week for MoCo Mavs 16 Red in the 16 Open division. She's been at most of our most recent Showcases in Houston and has made a strong impression in each of them, displaying solid technical skills and great determination on the court. Hooper is very quick and explosive with her movement and she goes to the ball with everything she has, leaving the impression nothing is out of reach for her. The libero is also very technical and consistent in how she makes contact with the ball, delivering precise passes and digs more often than not.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d78a909b30"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16811034/659480748cd49c0a288ea3a7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d78a909bfc"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["340360"],"_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":"Trevino will be leading the backcourt efforts of her team Valley Venom - 161 Red in the 16 Open division. She was outstanding during the last club season and solidified her name as one of the rising liberos in Texas with solid performances over the year. She plays with a lot of heart and will do whatever it takes to keep the ball off the floor. Trevino is very quick, explosive and determined and frequently amazes those watching with her incredible defensive action. She manages to keep her energy level high the entire time and is very productive with her passing and serving as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d78a909c81"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH7KoIzPTyI","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH7KoIzPTyI </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":"Maddie Dement","_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":"5'2u0022","_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":"Pearland","_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":"Dement is the starting libero for the AVA TX 17 Adidas team that will be in action in the 17 Open division. Having a squad with several impressive offensive players, the team needs consistent passing to thrive and that's one of the things that she delivers. Dement is extremely agile and mobile and also displays excellent body control, shaping her body in the perfect position to make contact with the ball every single time. She plays with a high level of attention on the backcourt and is also an offensive weapon with her tough floater.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d78a909d45"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15472406/657778ebdfd82617bc3f7706' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d78a909d69"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222795"],"_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":"Cox will be splitting libero duties with Izzy Rodriguez at HJV 18 Premier in the 18 Open division, but when she's not using the libero jersey, she will still be on the court as a defensive specialist. She's really comfortable with her passing, taking full control of the court, covering a huge area and delivering precise passes to her setter. Cox is also very active and productive on defense, using her quickness and ball control to make plays. She's a short player at 5'2u0022, but does a very good job of expanding her defensive range with quick movements and covers more ground than much taller liberos.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d78a909dbb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15378636/6582284b0dca4608240e3663' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d78a909ddf"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254078"],"_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":"Angeles is with a new club this season, having made the switch to AVA TX 18 Adidas, which will be competing in the 18 Open division. She's extremely technical and reads the game very well, a combination that puts her in the right spots to make plays on the backcourt. Angeles has consistently gotten better over the years and it feels like the biggest change had to do with her confidence as her game got significantly better once she became a key player in her high school team Manvel. Angeles is very quick and explosive on defense and gets off the floor to dive to balls in no time.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d78a909e29"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12210001/6596470a68988210dc2ed831' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d78a909e42"} /-->