Tour of Texas Stop 2 Roundtable – Mallori’s Version Vol 2
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It’s here! Tour of Texas Stop 2 is in Houston this year, which snaps a long standing tradition of Dallas/Austin rotation. Houston area volleyball is ready for the action. So who should you be watching? Follow me on social media…
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Continue ReadingIt’s here! Tour of Texas Stop 2 is in Houston this year, which snaps a long standing tradition of Dallas/Austin rotation. Houston area volleyball is ready for the action. So who should you be watching? Follow me on social media on X at mallorihowie for the latest updates this weekend.
16 National
What Teams Will Be Contending For a Championship?
McAllen Fierce 16-1 looked solid on the last stop of the tour, only losing 1 game to Houston Skyline. This team will outwork you, and draw out rallies that increase their chances of winning. They are scrappy and smart and have high volleyball IQ. Their defense is led by libero Izabella Cano Izabella Cano 5'6" | DS/L Sharyland Pioneer | 2027 State TX who has been consistent for them all season. Setter Yaneli Rocha Yaneli Rocha 5'4" | S McAllen | 2026 State TX is not your typical flashy setter but her knowledge of the game and spot on setting make her hitters successful.
San Antonio Juniors 16 Adidas has been one of my favorite teams since Countdown City Classic. They are disciplined and gritty on defense. Setter Gabrielle Ramon Gabrielle Ramon 5'6" | S John Paul Stevens | 2026 TX runs a fantastic offense, always spreading the ball at a fast tempo. Middle Eva Hernandez Eva Hernandez 5'11" | MB James Madison | 2026 TX is so long and athletic at the net, and she makes it very hard for opposing hitters to score. This team has been sound since day 1, and could easily win stop 2.
What Teams Could Sneak Up On People?
Roots 16-1 Green could make a play for the top 3. They have a 1-2 punch with outside Kaitlyn Hutchins Kaitlyn Hutchins 6'0" | OH Lake Belton | 2026 State TX and middle turned pin hitter Aniyah Baker. While Aniyah is still raw on the pin, she is a block you can not avoid, her size and length make her a problem for hitters. Kaitlyn is the steady swing of the team that can really pack a punch on the outside.
TW Skyline 16 Royal has been flying under the radar for a few weeks now but may be trying to separate from the middle of the pack with their 9th place finish last stop. Outside Tori Greeney has been on offensively and is getting set from all over the floor. This team has some new faces that are starting to come out and make a name for themselves such as Finley Wheeler and Maddie Spivey.
MoCo MAVS 16 Red is a team that is new to the Houston scene but has pulled out some big wins early on. They have a lot of energy and momentum that’s hard to stop once it is rolling. They are led by a setting duo Samantha Sampson Samantha Sampson 5'6" | S Grand Oaks | 2026 State TX and London King London King 5'9" | S Manvel | 2026 TX who do a great job of setting the tone and the fast pace that the hitters love to run. They could easily sneak up in the rankings this stop.
Who are some big time players who will be having a huge impact on the tournament?
Jennavee Jensen Roots 16-1 – All you need to know: heavy arm swing, fast follow through. She put up double digit kills all year during high school season and you can see that it paid off big time for her.
Brianna Espinoza SA Juniors 16 Adidas – A new name for me but one I learned fast, libero Brianna Espinoza is a defensive stud in the backcourt, and makes it look easy! I love her quiet intensity and somehow she is always near the action on the court!
Isabella Rivera Isabella Rivera 5'9" | MB Mcallen | 2026 TX McAllen Fierce 161 – An undersized middle that knows how to play the court! She has excellent vision and is a lethal scorer because of her high volleyball IQ. She takes aggressive swings but also knows how to score in the holes.
Kinsley Hooper Kinsley Hooper 5'3" Cypress Ranch | 2026 TX MoCo MAVS 16 Red – Not a new name for us after her high school season with Cy Ranch, but this club season she has taken her defensive game to the next level and very hard to score on because of her speed. She has also made strides in serve receive and loves to take as many balls as she can.