Red Rock Rave Qualifier: Five Texas Middles to Watch
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One of the most anticipated and competitive National Qualifiers held in the club volleyball season, the SCVA Red Rock Rave Qualifier will be hosting its second of two rounds of action this weekend, with matches taking place at the Mandalay…
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Continue ReadingOne of the most anticipated and competitive National Qualifiers held in the club volleyball season, the SCVA Red Rock Rave Qualifier will be hosting its second of two rounds of action this weekend, with matches taking place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, in Las Vegas, between Saturday and Monday.
The Red Rock Rave is a gigantic tournament, that attracts club teams from the entire country, and in the second week of action, over 1,000 of them will be on the court, competing across 15 divisions in the 15s, 16s, 17s and 18s age groups.
Teams from Texas will obviously make the trip West to have another shot at qualifying for the USA Volleyball Girls National Championships coming up between April and June. As we prepare for the start of the event, let’s take a look at some promising prospects from the Lone Star State that will be on the court. Keep an eye out for these middles:
McKenna Gobin
McKenna Gobin
Gobin will be with STVA 15 Mizuno in the 15 USA division this weekend in Vegas. The middle is one of the team’s top players, providing them with a solid and reliable presence in the middle. Gobbin is a strong offensive player, who uses her length to make contact with the ball at a very high point and swings with great power. Her blocking is also very effective as Gobin moves well at the net and takes up a lot of space from opposing hitters with her long arms above the net.
Keira Bose
Keira Bose
Bose is one of the middles of the Excel 16 National Red team that will compete in the 16 Open division. Her excellent mobility is one of the main traits of her game as it allows the middle to play with great intensity on both sides of the ball. Bose’s physical tools also make of her a very strong offensive player, as she gets off the floor well and uses her quick right arm to hit the ball with power – she also swings from the left with good efficiency. She can hit a lot of different sets in the middle and has the ability to swing in different directions, which makes it very hard for opponents to stop her.
Rugley and her AVA TX 17 Adidas teammates will battle in the 17 Open division. She emerged as one of the top middles in Texas in her age group a couple of years ago mainly because of her big, aggressive and efficient blocking. Rugley reads the game well and is mobile with her movement and intelligent with her decision-making when getting stops at the net. The middle has shown great improvement in her offensive game lately, developing the ability to hit different sets and increasing her scoring production.
Highlights
Cameron Cecil
Cameron Cecil
With Cecil in the middle, 1United 17N Blue will get on the court in the 17 USA division. A six-footer, she’s very physical and that shows on both sides of the ball with the level of intensity she plays. Because of her heavy arm, Cecil is capable of swinging with a lot of power even when she doesn’t have the time to make a full offensive approach, which makes of her a very interesting option in transition plays. She also blocks at a very high level and is very smart in the way she places her arms above the net when she gets late to the pins.
Auguste will appear in the 18 Open division, as one of the key players in her Houston Skyline 18 Royal team. A U19 world champion with the US national team last year, she’s one of the top middles in the country in her class and is capable of making a difference both offensively and defensively. To say Auguste is extremely athletic would probably be an understatement, but she has been excellent in developing her game around her physical tools. Auguste is an extremely productive offensive player, swinging with power and precision, and also dominates the net with her blocking, moving well and playing aggressively.