Lone Star Regionals: 16s – Standout Middles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The George R. Brown Convention Center, in downtown Houston, was packed last weekend as it hosted one of the most anticipated tournaments in the club volleyball season for Texas players, the Lone Star Regionals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With almost 600 teams entered to compete in the 12 divisions, the tournament offered another opportunity for clubs to qualify for the upcoming Girls Junior National Championship and attracted competitors from all over the Lone Star State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/05/lone-star-regionals-16s-day-1-photos/">Lone Star Regionals: 16s - Day 1 Photos</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig was in attendance on Saturday, when we got to watch 12 of the 54 teams that competed in the 16 Bid division. We'll now use the week to highlight the ones that stood out with their play, today listing the middles that did a good job:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254288"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Pyle played a big role in [program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston'] 16 Adidas' amazing campaign of seven wins that propelled them to earn a bid. She was extremely dominant in the middle, making a huge impact in the game on both sides of the ball and controlling the flow of the game. Pyle was in a league of her own offensively, displaying great chemistry with the team's setters and hitting different sets with tremendous power and precision. She also stood out with her blocking, remaining alert at the net, moving very well and using her arms aggressively to get stops.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663970f11a549"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PeytynPyle/status/1787614494354542643","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PeytynPyle/status/1787614494354542643 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alana Evans","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Dawson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Houston Stellar","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Evans' athleticism in the middle was of great help to Houston Stellar 16 Elite as they completed their schedule with six wins and one loss, earning a bid in the 16 USA division. She played with a lot of intensity of both sides of the game and was extremely active at the net for the team. Evans faced taller blockers on several occasions but used her athleticism and jumping ability to overpower them. She was very productive offensively, making contact with the ball at a high point and hitting different sets with great efficiency, but also produced defensively with her blocking, moving well and taking up space from opposing hitters.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663970f11a718"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17184098/66365cb9177c58581c9fa74c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663970f11a988"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brooke Brown","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Katy United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Brown was one of the standouts in her Katy United 16 Adidas team that had three wins and four losses in the event, earning a bid to the 16 Liberty division at the Nationals. A six-footer, she made her presence felt at the net, especially on offense, using her long arms to make contact with the ball at a high point and hitting it hard. Brown also did a very good job with her blocking and transitioned very quickly to offense, giving her setters an alternative in the middle in every play. She also showed above-average backcourt skills for a middle, serving well and getting several touches on defense, displaying solid ball control.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663970f11aa7f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21658772/6638ec4d934f579a4dfa65cc' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663970f11aabd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["438505"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Even though her Texas Heat 16-1 team didn't have a good week, getting a single win in five matches, it was impossible not to notice Stallworth's game with them. Standing at 6'3u0022 and extremely physical, she didn't go unnoticed at the net and contributed on both sides of the ball. Blocking was certainly her main skill as she displayed great instincts to read plays and was very quick to get off the floor and place her arms above the net. Stallworth's offense is still coming together, but she gets to score on most plays because of her high contact point. She was also a nice surprise on the backcourt, serving a top spin jump serve with good regularity and showing decent technical skills to pass and play defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663970f11ab72"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":537497,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/IMG_4488.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-537497" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alamo 16 Premier vs. Texas Heat 16-1</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Xandria Johnson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Rivera","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Valley Venom","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Johnson was another case of a player who stood out despite her team's difficult weekend u003c!u002du002dmoreu002du002du003ewith several players down because of injuries - Valley Venom - 161 Red dropped all five matches over the weekend in Houston. Although not very tall, Johnson displayed an interesting leaping ability and played with a lot of intensity. Her offensive game was noteworthy as she hit different sets in every direction with power and precision. When blocking, Johnson had a good presence at the net, because of her ability to read plays and handle overpasses and tight sets.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663970f11ac5c"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":537470,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/IMG_4337.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-537470" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">STVA 16 Mizuno vs. Valley Venom - 161 Red</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->