Northeast Qualifier – Five Texas Outsides to Watch
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Another week, another National Qualifier. This is what life looks like at this point of the club season and this weekend’s destination for teams from around the country will be Philadelphia, where the first stage of the Northeast Qualifier will…
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Continue ReadingAnother week, another National Qualifier. This is what life looks like at this point of the club season and this weekend’s destination for teams from around the country will be Philadelphia, where the first stage of the Northeast Qualifier will take place from Friday to Sunday.
The event will feature five divisions (17 Open, 18 American, 18 Liberty, 18 Open and 18 USA) and as many as 219 teams will be in action competing for spots at the 2024 USA Volleyball Girls National Championship.
The state of Texas will be represented in each of the five divisions as 29 teams will make the trip to Pennsylvania this weekend and will take the days leading to the event to highlight some of the players from the Lone Star State that will be on the court. Now let’s look into the outside hitters:
Sims will be one of the key pieces of her Flyers 17 USA-Ed team in the 17 Open division. Despite not being extremely tall, she’s one of the team’s main offensive weapons and has a lot of success in her swings. Sims is very technical, has excellent vision and gets off the floor well and, with that combination, she’s able to wait until the last second to make her shot selection. Her swings are always very precise and that allows her to score at a good rate even when out of system. The pin hitter is also extremely productive on the backcourt, using her positioning to get several digs in the middle back position and passing with a great deal of confidence.
Highlights
Jordan and her team TAV 17 Black Haroun will be in contention in the 17 Open division. Outside hitter is a position of strength for the team with her and Jayla Jackson Jayla Jackson 5’9″ | OH Prosper | 2026 State TX – the two have similar profiles, as undersized outside hitters who can jump out of the gym and unleash tremendous power in their swings. Jordan is very effective above the net also because of her well-diversified offense, which includes a variety of different shots. Her athleticism is also a big asset on the backcourt as it allows her to get to many balls on defense.
Avery Craig
Avery Craig
Craig will be one of the pillars of her Renegades 18 Adidas team that will be in action in the 18 American division. A great all-around prospect, she has the ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball and is vital in the team’s playing system. A 5’10” pin hitter, Craig uses her length very well offensively and combines her reach with good power and a strong shot selection to put the ball down. The outside hitter is also very technical and well-versed on the backcourt and also plays a prominent role with her passing and defense.
Arbuckle’s offensive firepower will be one of the weapons of her UEPA 18G team in the 18 American division. Very long and athletic, she’s the focal point of the team’s offense and uses her reach and her quick right arm to beat blockers and put the ball down even out of system and in transition plays. Arbuckle manages to make contact with the ball at a very high point and is excellent at finding ways to hit around the block. Formerly a middle, she also has well-developed blocking skills and offers a strong defensive presence at the net as well.
The versatile Animashaun will help Houston Skyline 18 Royal as they battle in the 18 Open division. A setter with her high school team St. John’s, she’s been playing as a pin hitter during the club season and her skill set transitioned extremely well to the position. Animashaun is obviously very technical, but she’s also extremely athletic and can jump as high as anyone on the court. She makes contact with the ball at a very high point and is always excellent with her decision-making, scoring at a great rate while making very few mistakes. She also passes, blocks and plays defense at a very high level.