Northern Lights Qualifier: Five Texas Middles to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bid season has officially started in club volleyball and that means that for the next few months, goal number one for every club team in the country will be qualifying for the National Championship in their respective age groups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some Texas teams got it done last weekend, at the Adidas Lone Star Classic, in Austin, and several others will have the opportunity to book their tickets this week, when they compete at the Northern Lights Qualifier, held in Minneapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lone Star State is sending as many as 53 teams to compete in divisions in the 15s, 17s and 18s age groups and while we wish them good luck and prepare for the event, let's take a look at some talented Texas players who will be on the court from Friday to Sunday, this time looking at some middles who could have big roles with their teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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='534395' first='Jacey' last='Carroll']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"St. John's","_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":"Carroll will try to help her team Houston Skyline 15 Royal succeed in the 15 Open division. She's a very physical player, but there's a lot more to her game that makes of her a very promising prospect. Carroll knows how to make her presence felt at the net, playing with great energy and intensity. She makes contact with the ball at a very high point and is extremely versatile offensively, being capable of scoring from the middle, the right and the left. The middle also has solid ball control and can help with her passing and defense if needed.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65aefca655a1f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/2687041/65a6c286f56a080398f99124' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65aefca655b0c"} /--> <!-- 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":"Micah Rusher","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Oak Ridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston']","_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":"Rusher will be in the middle when her team [program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston'] 15 Adidas gets on the court in the 15 USA division. Her athleticism is truly impressive and shapes her game in a variety of ways. Rusher, who played a big role with Oak Ridge as a freshman during the last high school season, stands out for her ability to get off the floor, but her footwork is another major part of what she does on the court. The middle has excellent blocking instincts and combines that with her athleticism to get stops. Rusher is also a solid offensive player, in part because of the high contact point of her swings.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65aefca655bd0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19741291/6538c09c6e8b3a175c1149a0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65aefca655c00"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["220413"],"_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":"Shanahan will compete in the 17 Open division this weekend with her team NRG VBC 17 AMPD Navy. She'll probably be one of the most well-versed middles in the division when it comes to the offensive part of the game. Shanahan is a powerful offensive player, but what truly makes of her a highly productive player at the net is her ability to hit all kinds of different sets, in part thanks to her excellent footwork. The middle can also make an impact on the defensive side of the game with her blocking as she reads the game well and times her jumps perfectly in order to meet the opposing hitter at the highest point of her move.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65aefca655c64"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/AveryShanahan4/status/1737178263443722712?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/AveryShanahan4/status/1737178263443722712?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["124146"],"_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":"A class of 2024 prospect, Humphrey has been a huge addition to the HJV 17 Elite team that will compete in the 17 Open division, making them even stronger. A UCLA commit, she has one of the strongest net presences in the state, making plays on both sides of the ball and dominating the net. An extremely athletic player, she can take matches over offensively and, at the same time, make the life of the opponent's main hitters absolutely miserable with her blocking. A lot of Humphrey's tremendous production on the court comes from her mindset, which is at the same time calm and aggressive, making of her one of the smartest players on the court.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65aefca655cba"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17160372/65a723f0e97ab403a8538cd5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65aefca655ce0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155127"],"_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":"Brown-Riggins has switched clubs this season and will be with Drive Nation 18 Red when they compete in the 18 Open division. Her arrival has made the team stronger at the net as she's capable of making an impact on both sides of the ball. She's physical and quick at the same time and can dominate the net with her blocking thanks to her excellent movement, her length and her ability to read the game across the net. Brown-Riggins is also extremely versatile offensively, being capable of hitting from anywhere on the court. She plays with incredible energy and often elevates her teammates with her support and dedication.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65aefca655d35"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KinzleyBrown/status/1744005670171476246?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/KinzleyBrown/status/1744005670171476246?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->