Red Rock Rave Qualifier: Five Texas Setters to Watch
In this article:
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…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
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, starting with the setters:
Tinsley Welker
Tinsley Welker
Welker will play for Houston Skyline 15 Royal in the 15 Open division. She has been one of the top setters to emerge in the class of 2027 in Texas and has what it takes to become an elite player at the next level of the game. Welker has everything a coach could want from a setter as she’s technical, tall, mentally strong and very intelligent. Her touch on the ball is very clean and she’s capable of repeating the same locations over and over again. Despite being a tall setter, Welker moves around the court with great agility, getting to passes off the net in no time. She’s also an asset at the net with her blocking and a solid, technical defender on the backcourt.
Kelly will be setting for Dallas Skyline 15 Black in the 15 USA division. She joined the club this season and has been making an excellent impression on those watching with her efficient and intelligent play. Kelly’s pure setting is right up there with the best in the state as she’s incredibly precise when setting against the flow of play and has a great connection with her middles – it feels like she puts the ball on a platter for them instead of setting. She’s never afraid of taking risks and has a high success rate when she tries to get creative. Kelly also plays with great energy and is a positive influence to her teammates.
Sampson and her MoCo Mavs 16 Red team will appear in the 16 USA division in Las Vegas. The club has opened recently and, as a setter, getting to work with an entirely new group of hitters while also having to develop chemistry with each of them can be a big challenge. Sampson not only handled this process well, but she’s also been able to make the team play at her pace in no time. A state champion with Grand Oaks, she has been in big matches and that helps her remain calm and make good decisions under pressure. Sampson also improved her defense on the right back position over the last few months as she continues to develop her game.
Moore will be guiding Excel 17 National Red as they navigate the tough 17 Open division. Her potential was always very obvious, but the setter has taken her game to another level over the last year or so, developing her precision and consistency when setting. Moore’s size is a massive asset as while it allows her to get to tight passes, block well and keep opposing blockers guessing when she’s at the net, it doesn’t take anything from her mobility on the court. Moore is also a ferocious and powerful hitter, who can make a huge impact offensively.
Highlights
Cicherski will be setting for The Woodlands Skyline 18 Royal in the 18 USA division. An extremely technical and intelligent player, she’s the type of setter that makes her hitters better with her game. Also a track and field student-athlete, she’s more athletic than people give her credit for and has incredible mobility on the court. Cicherski also has a very high volleyball IQ and is capable of adjusting the game plan on the fly and figuring things out by herself when things aren’t going her team’s way. She’s a solid server and defender too.