Northern Lights Qualifier: Five Texas Setters 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, starting with the setters:</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":"Tinsley Welker","_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":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fort Bend Austin","_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":"Welker will be setting for Houston Skyline 15 Royal in the 15 Open division this weekend. She was one of the most promising freshman setters to emerge in the Houston area in the last high school season and has all the tools to develop into an elite playmaker. Her touch on the ball is very clean and she has a high volleyball IQ, running a fairly intricate and fast-paced offense when in system. Her size is also a great asset as, as a six-footer, Welker has a strong presence at the net, but her height doesn't negatively impact her movement as she's quick to get to the ball and very agile when playing defense. The setter is also always very calm on the court, which allows her to make good decisions even when under pressure.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae996b499cd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19768002/65708e51d21c4603f0e1a5c4' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae996b49a7a"} /--> <!-- 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":"Reese Seaton","_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":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Southwest Christian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='484725' first='Peak' last='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":"The starting setter for her Peak 15 Black Bryar team, Seaton will be in action in the 15 Open division. She's a highly technical player, who can deal with any sort of pass and still get her hitters in a good position to score. Seaton is very smooth with how she makes contact with the ball and one of the aspects of her game which impress me the most is her body control and how she uses it to get the ball where she wants to. She's a very good defender too and watch out for left-handed floaters, which often get opponents out of system and lead to long serving runs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae996b49b6a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18771631/65a9704cc1244e052c9ece62' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae996b49ba3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254241"],"_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 talented Escobar will be leading her team HJV 17 National in the 17 Liberty division. She's the type of setter that keeps her teams in a good rhythm with her consistency and reliability. Escobar is very precise and is able to remain consistent when setting to every position. She also has a very strong feel for the game and knows exactly which hitter to use in each moment of the match, besides getting solid production on the backcourt. The setter also has a friendly and positive personality on the court, pushing her teammates forward.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae996b49bf9"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KatEscobar25/status/1748108156847137066?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/KatEscobar25/status/1748108156847137066?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["186765"],"_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 Dunn at setter, Houston Stellar 17 Elite will fight for the bid in the 17 USA division. A setter with a solid combination of technical and technical tools, she is firmly among the best in her position in the Houston area and plays a major role in her team. Dunn's playmaking is extremely efficient and she can shoot the ball to the pin faster than most of the other setters. She's got a lot of strength in her lower body and that helps a lot with her movement and with how well she gets off the floor. Although Dunn's primary role with the team is as a setter, she can also help on offense, hitting from the right with tremendous efficiency.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae996b49c83"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/Bri_Dunn27/status/1748464573454135563?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/Bri_Dunn27/status/1748464573454135563?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["124135"],"_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":"Wu will be leading the powerful offense of Drive Nation 18 Red in the 18 Open division. One of the best setters in the state, she has some very interesting hitters to work with and knows exactly how to make the most of each of them, running a very effective offense that keeps everyone involved. Wu is extremely technical and agile, but what sets her apart from other setters is her strong mental game. She's always extremely focused on what's happening on the court, can see plays before everyone else and remains calm no matter what. Wu is also productive on the backcourt, getting tough serves across the net and playing very good defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae996b49d0a"} /-->