Northeast Qualifier – Five Texas Right Sides 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. Our last list features some of the exciting right sides who will represent Texas in Philadelphia:
Catherine Warren
Catherine Warren
Warren and her Excel 17 National White team will be in action in the 17 Open division in Pennsylvania. The six-footer right-side hitter will be one of the team’s main offensive weapons and their success will partially depend on her ability to put the ball down. She’s very difficult to stop swinging from the right as she likes to hit a little bit of a faster and shortened set, which often disorganizes the opposing block. Warren makes a very strong approach with a single step that allows her to get faster to the ball and is very good at seeing the block and using her offensive range to hit around it. Her blocking is also a big asset as she’s technical and disciplined when it comes to making stops at the net.
One of the top players in her position in her age group in Texas, Sims will appear in the 17 Open division with her team AVA TX 17 Adidas. She’s been consistently developing her game over the years and plays an important role with AVA, serving as the team’s secondary scoring option to outside hitter Kennedi Rogers Kennedi Rogers 5’10” | OH Ridge Point | 2025 State #57 Nation TX . Sims is very tall and uses that to her favor offensively, finding good angles to put the ball down. She’s very calm and reliable when swinging and is a player who will deliver in big moments, handling pressure well. Her blocking also has difference-making potential as she can be a real challenge to opposing outside hitters because of her length and her ability to read plays.
Highlights
Porter will be starting on the right for her team Houston Skyline 17 Royal in the 17 Open division. She’s a big part of the team’s potent offense and offers a reliable scoring presence on the right. Porter is extremely explosive, gets off the floor very well and is incredibly precise and efficient with her swings. She also had extraordinary ball control, which allows her to play outside hitter for her high school team Cy Ranch and contribute on defense and in serve-receive with Skyline. Another very positive aspect of her game is her fighting mentality, which often influences her teammates on the court.
Highlights
Medina and her TAV Houston 18 Adidas team will battle in the 18 Open division. A left-handed hitter, she has the perfect profile to play on the right, combining interesting physical and technical tools that strengthen her offense. Medina makes contact with the ball at a very high point and can swing it hard, but other aspects of her offense make of her a very productive hitter, such as her ability to score with higher or quicker sets and the wide variety of shots she diplays. Medina also has a strong blocking presence on the right and always looks calm and relaxed on the court.
Highlights
High-scoring right side hitter Buchanan and her HJV 18 Elite team will chase the bid in the 18 Open division. She’s super explosive at the net and adds an offensive spark to the team whenever she’s on the court. Buchanan plays with a lot of intensity and can score with great efficiency from the right and the left. She has an impressive vertical and tremendous power in her right arm, being difficult to stop for both blockers and defenders. The right side hitter has what it takes to be a high-volume scorer for any team as she has the physical and technical tools to put the ball down in any situation and the determination to maintain her solid level during entire matches.