Sunshine Classic Qualifier: Five Texas Middles to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The race for spots at the 2024 USA Volleyball Girls National Championship continues this week and Orlando, Florida, will be the place to be as the city will host the first weekend of action of the Sunshine Volleyball Classic Qualifier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Going on from Saturday to Monday, the event is a huge one, featuring 12 divisions and hundreds of teams, which will all do their best to earn the bid for the National Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas will have massive representation in the tournament, with as many as 113 teams from the Lone Star State making the trip to Florida to compete in this weekend's event. As we prepare for intense competition, let's take a look at some promising setter prospects that will be on the court this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's time we look into some middles who could make a difference this weekend:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["227249"],"_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":"Elliott joined AVA TX 16 Adidas this season and will be with them this weekend in Florida, competing in the 17 Open division. An extremely physical player, she made the team a lot stronger at the net with her game and immediately became a key piece for them. Elliott is a difference-maker with her blocking, using her length and athleticism to shut down opponents and put pressure on opposing hitters. Her offense is consistently evolving and Elliott has become more and more involved in the team's scoring efforts, hitting different sets down the middle.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcfd4285bd1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17159452/65d83134bed6870a883edd9f' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcfd4285c70"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254092"],"_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":"Funk and her HJV 16 Elite teammates will form one of the strongest teams in the 16 Open division. A middle that combines excellent physical tools and a very high volleyball IQ, she has the ability to take matches over in the middle and is an important piece in a very strong HJV team. Funk is extremely well-versed offensively, hitting different sets in the middle and scoring at a high rate, while keeping her errors very low. She also does a solid job with her blocking, reading the game well and playing aggressively above the net.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcfd4285cdc"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17157373/65d3b9696655210440a8f9a7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcfd4285cfb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["455703"],"_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 Kostroun in the middle, Roots 17-1 Green will take the court in the 17 USA division. An extremely physical player, she has a strong presence at the net for them and can be very difficult to stop offensively when she gets into a rhythm. Kostroun is tall, athletic and very powerful, a combination that contributes to her offensive efficiency as very few blockers are capable of handling her hard swings. She also makes a big impact with her blocking, moving very well at the net and doing a very good job of sealing the space with her arms.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcfd4285d40"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18077467/65d7e56c90f9bc0a84a61ee4' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcfd4285d5b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["314726"],"_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":"Bowman will be a part of the strong Excel 17 National Red team that will compete in the 17 Open division. Excel are strong everywhere and the middle is no exception, with her and [player_tooltip player_id='207063' first='Sydney' last='Strenger'] getting the job done on both sides of the ball. An excellent blocker, Bowman reads the game well and is very quick to react to it, which helps her get to the pin on time to make stops time and time again. She also makes a strong impact on the offensive side of the game, swinging with power, precision and consistency, especially when hitting the slide set.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcfd4285d9f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16597951/65d7228c5b3d1913186baec0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcfd4285db9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["507752"],"_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":"Nunez will be with SA Juniors 17 Adidas as they navigate the 17 USA division. She has a very strong presence at the net, playing with great intensity and moving extremely well on both sides of the game. Nunez is a very good blocker, who reads the game well and is patient enough to wait for the right moment to get up and make a stop. She's excellent at sealing the space right next to the pin blocker and has great technique above the net. Offensively, her intensity and confidence make of her a very effective hitter as she doesn't hold anything back when she goes up to swing, beating blockers and defenders with her power. Nunez is also a very good server.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/andrea_nunez?video=3692168u0022u003eu003cstrongu003eHighlightsu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65dcfd4285e01"} /-->