Texas Team Spotlight – Vol 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are one month and a half into the club season and we have seen a lot of volleyball already.&nbsp; Teams are solidifying their lineups to find the right mix to get into Qualifier season.&nbsp; Here are some teams and players who definitely are turning heads due to their play.&nbsp; This series will highlight some players who we have seen in person and we are adding to our list to watch this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Drive Nation 15 Red</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":504944,"width":"164px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/Drive-Nation-15-Red.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-504944" style="width:164px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has some players with some amazing athletic prowess. &nbsp;Their entire roster has elite talent.&nbsp; While I watched them play a couple of players definitely stood out to me.&nbsp; Coached by the Stanfields who have been around for quite a while in the volleyball world, this team has runs that could rival any team in this age group.&nbsp; Setter Pennie Sample has power for days in her upper body.&nbsp; She showed flashes of brilliance in the position.&nbsp; I liked how soft her hands were when she dished the rock.&nbsp; Outside hitter Navaeh Richardson was a joy to watch.&nbsp; She was one of their top offensive weapons in the match I watched.&nbsp; Her ability to pass serve and flare out to her touch point was very fluid and quick.&nbsp; Middle Kharley Smith is super powerful and runs a very aggressive approach to her setter.&nbsp; She drives into the ground well and this will help her stay in tempo for quicks.&nbsp; I also loved how strong her block was.&nbsp; Her press can be a nuisance to potential attackers.&nbsp; Right side [player_tooltip player_id='433627' first='Cara' last='Marshall'] was phenomenal and they went to her often for a reason.&nbsp; She is electric and can score at a high clip.&nbsp; Outside [player_tooltip player_id='433672' first='Vanessa' last='Mudro'] was also a very great scoring option for this wonderful squad.&nbsp; I liked how she complimented the other attackers on this team.&nbsp; She gives a great target to spread the ball around the net well.&nbsp; I think this team will take some time to get acclimated to each other but they should be ready to compete at the Open level in a few tournaments.&nbsp; We will have more details on other players on their team soon.&nbsp; Stay tuned.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Austin Performance 15 Adidas</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":504945,"width":"161px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/Austin-Performance-15-Adidas.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-504945" style="width:161px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This squad has had a big makeover from their team last season but they have some players who made me stop by their court and take notice.&nbsp; I loved watching libero Jenna Tello play the position.&nbsp; I was introduced to her last season and although she is a 2028 prospect, she holds her own as she plays up with older players.&nbsp; In my opinion, she is the next great libero to come out of the central Texas area in her grad class.&nbsp; Her ability to fly around the court and create awesome angles with her platform are second to none.&nbsp; When it comes to ball control experts that you should be watching out for, put her name on your short list for sure.&nbsp; Outside hitter Alexa Sandoval played very well and was one of the strong attackers in the match I watched.&nbsp; Setter Bailey Whitten was doing a great job of tracking the pass to set to her hitters.&nbsp; I liked her footwork and thought she was working very hard on the court in every aspect of her position. Emily Varnell and Tilly Streeter performed at a high level at the net also.&nbsp; There is no doubt that the wonderful coaches and directors at AP will get this team ready to compete.&nbsp; Stay tuned for more soon.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always stay tuned for more articles on your favorite athletes.&nbsp; If you have anyone you think we should watch out for, please shoot me an email with some info at <a href="mailto:Michael@prepdig.com">Michael@prepdig.com</a>.&nbsp; Also don't forget to help these kids get more exposure by sharing our stories with your friends.&nbsp; Help us help them by simply retweeting on Twitter or sharing on Facebook.&nbsp; Thanks for following us, Prep Dig Family!&nbsp; Don't be afraid to interact with us.&nbsp; We love the likes, shares, and quotes/comments.&nbsp; Keep them coming!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->