Sunshine Classic Qualifier: Five Texas Setters to Watch
In this article:
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.…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 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.
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.
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.
We start with the setters:
Boatman will be with TX Legacy 16 Elite competing in the 16 USA division. The setter is a key piece in the team with her ability to make plays and creatively orchestrate their offense. Boatman likes to move hitters around, putting them in an advantage against opposing blockers, but is always precise and reliable with her locations. A tall setter, she’s an asset at the net, but also moves well on the court, doing a good job when she needs to track passes or shanked digs. She also makes an impact on games from the service line with her tough floater.
Highlights
Emerson Boyd
Emerson Boyd
Boyd will be setting for Areté 16 Navy Telos in the 16 Open division. A six-footer, Boyd has an excellent all-around game and can be used as a pin hitter too, offering the team flexibility and another scoring weapon. She’s been consistently raising her stock in Texas and seems poised to make the leap and join the elite setters in the state. I love how Boyd uses her length to run quick sets in the middle and to get to tight passes and you can see her arms are always fully stretched when she makes contact with the ball. She also has a solid blocking presence and can play good defense.
Victoriano will be calling the shots for Dallas Skyline 16 Royal in the 16 Open division. She was with the USYNT for a Winter Training Series in California last December and has solidified herself as one of the top setters in Texas in her age group. Victoriano’s superior technical skills are the first thing to stand out in her game but the most important aspect of it is how intelligent she is to make the most of them. Her ball distribution is always effective and you can tell by her decision-making that she’s really aware of what’s happening on the court at all times. Victoriano is also very mobile and can make a difference when playing defense as well.
Highlights
James and her Houston Skyline 17 Black team will compete in the 17 USA division. The setter combines physical and technical ways in a very productive way and plays with great energy on the court. James’ touch on the ball is very smooth and she thrives by remaining consistent with her locations and making good choices with her distribution. A vocal player on the court, she’s a positive leader in the team, consistently encouraging and cheering her teammates up. Because of her size and athleticism, James is a solid blocker and is also very efficient when she takes hitting duties at the net. She also plays strong defense at the right back position.
Dumas’ AVA TX 17 Adidas will be one of eight Texas teams in action in the 17 Open division. An extremely well-rounded player, she’s been excellent for them this season, working extremely well with their talented group of hitters and making the most of each of them. Dumas is very intelligent in terms of when using her athletic middles and keeps opposing blockers guessing all day. A lefty, she’s a threat with her setter dumps too and can also offer a strong blocking and hitting presence at the net. Dumas works very hard on defense as well and can generate several transition plays every match.