Star Sports Center #5 – Top Outsides

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club volleyball season continues to progress in the state of Texas, with several tournaments being held every weekend across the Lone Star State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Saturday, the British International School of Houston welcomed one of them, the Star Sports Center #5, hosted by the Houston Stars club. The tournament featured 22 teams from the 16s, 17s and 18s age groups, which competed in a single division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/01/star-sports-center-5-photos/">Star Sports Center #5 - Photos</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a great opportunity to take a look at some players who don't always take part in the major events we get to attend and there were some interesting findings made during the day. These outside hitters were huge for 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":"Jayla Buford","_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":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Travis","_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":"Buford was one of the talented outside hitters that pushed Houston Skyline 17 Black to win the tournament with six victories and no sets dropped. Very long and athletic, she used her physical tools extremely well at the net and at times opponents had no answer to her game. Buford got off the floor well, made contact with the ball at a very high point and was very thoughtful with her shot selection, consistently putting the ball down and making few mistakes. She also displayed solid backcourt skills, passing efficiently and holding her own when playing defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b839b8ca38a"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":504158,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/IMG_9479.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-504158" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">H Skyline 17 Black vs. KVA 17 Nike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- 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":"Chloe DeMoss","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"FBCHA","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Houston Force","_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":"DeMoss was the most talented and important player in her Houston Force 17 Empire team that ranked fifth after getting two wins and two losses. A very interesting all-around player, she moved to Houston Force this season and immediately became a key piece for them because of her ability to produce in different areas of the game. DeMoss was the team's go-to scorer, getting set on the left, right and even on the backcourt, and responded well, displaying good power and decision-making in her swings. She remained consistent during matches despite her high usage and also contributed with solid passing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b839b8ca427"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1751259401103749588?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/grtorres/status/1751259401103749588?s=20 </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":"Shelbey Cross","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Brenham","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"The Woodlands 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":"Cross and Kristen Shields made of outside hitter a position of strength in The Woodlands Skyline 16 Black team that finished third with four wins and one loss. The two complemented each other very well and gave the team a lot of stability at the pin. Cross was the most physical and powerful of the two, carrying a larger offensive role and putting the ball in key moments of matches. She was also very productive on the backcourt, playing with great energy on defense and serving well, often going on long runs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b839b8ca4af"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19740119/65b83d6eb018d60ae07c9c40' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b914897404e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["230851"],"_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 a right side hitter, Ellen moved to the left with Houston Skyline 16 Black and helped the team secure a third-place finish at the event, getting four wins and one loss over the day. Her play was very well-rounded and consistent during the day as Ellen contributed on both sides of the ball. She covered a lot of ground in serve-receive and was extremely effective at the net, combining the power of her heavy right arm with an excellent shot selection. She was also among the team's top servers and consistently got opponents out of system.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b839b8ca507"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17075122/65b82d07bee0f4119000283d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b9148974094"} /--> <!-- 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":"Annika Brooks","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sacred Heart Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Katy United","_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 towering Brooks was an important offensive weapon for her Katy United 17 Adidas team that ranked fifth with one victory in three matches. Because of her size and length, she was very difficult to stop at the net, especially when fully stretched her arm to hit over the top of the opposing blockers. Brooks was a little inconsistent during the day, but had certainly more good moments than bad ones. She scored at a good rate from the left and the right and also made a difference with her huge block. The outside hitter was asked to pass on some rotations and did a good job of delivering the ball to the team's setter.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b839b8ca58a"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":504183,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/IMG_9637.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-504183" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Katy United 17 Adidas vs. The Woodlands Skyline 16 Black</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->