MLK Invitational: Five Setters 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. We begin with the setters:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["437714"],"_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":"Martinez will be setting for Houston Stellar 15 Elite in the 15 Open division. She had a tremendous freshman high school season with Goose Creek Memorial and started club on fire, earning the 'Gamechanger' tag in one of our Top 250 Expos a few weeks ago. Martinez is very quick to get to the ball and does a very good job of switching things up offensively while remaining accurate. She also plays on the sand and her mobility and ball control on the backcourt are both excellent, which makes of her an outstanding defender. Martinez is also a lethal server, firing a tough floater that's a handful to opposing passers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c1129113b9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21336213/65771513d21b3f06e8978955' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c112911404"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["452249"],"_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":"Sampson and her team MoCo Mavs 16 Red will be in action in the 16 Open division. This is a new club in the Houston area, which means she's working with this group of hitters for the first time, but is quickly adjusting to them. Sampson won the state title with Grand Oaks less than two months ago and had an important role with the team. Her release is very clean and precise and she can set to every location with great precision. Sampson is also an asset on the backcourt, getting several touches on defense and creating problems for opponents with her serving. She always looks very calm on the court and displays a very high volleyball IQ when she needs to make split-second decisions.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c112911464"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13872955/65972d09478d6313c078a8ce' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c112911484"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["203942"],"_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":"Zuniga was one of the most exciting new faces the last club season brought and I'm looking forward to watching her in action again after a few months - she will be with Valley Venom - 161 Red in the 16 Open division. Last season, she was a huge part of that team, running their offense masterfully and strongly contributing in other areas with her impressive all-around game. Zuniga has a very nice touch on the ball and is very good at sharing the ball among her hitters and remaining precise. She's also a big part of the team's offense, using her size and heavy arm to swing from the right. The setter works very hard on the court and brings a lot of energy to her teammates.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c1129114e0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17934900/6558e365a681b708c4dec8fb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c1129114fe"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["218999"],"_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":"Robinson has switched clubs this offseason and will be setting for AVA TX 17 Adidas, playing one age group up in the 17 Open division. She will have a strong group of hitters to work with and I'm excited to see what she can do with them. She's extremely smooth on the ball and is one of those setters who can be absolutely unpredictable when in system because of her creativity and willingness to risk and take chances. A lefty, Robinson can also be very dangerous with her setter dumps. She's a solid backcourt player as well, doing a good job on defense and having good runs from the service line.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c112911557"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15374644/6577cea9b534e30bcc7a11a5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c112911575"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155125"],"_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":"One of the top setters in the area, Gilreath will be with HJV 18 Elite in the 18 Open division in her last club season. She checks all the boxes when one thinks of an elite setter as she has the size, athleticism, and technical and mental skills to thrive in the position. Gilreath is extremely mobile and gets to passes off the net in the blink of an eye - her length helps her deal with tight passes too. Her touch is clean and smooth and she is smart enough to keep all her hitters involved but knowing who to set when the game is on the line. She is solid on the backcourt, but also an asset at the net, using her long arms to block and swing at a high level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c1129115cd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12210014/657773acd21b3f14e0edcc11' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659c1129115ec"} /-->