Magnificent Middles at the FAST Warm-Up 15 Open Division

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club volleyball season is officially underway, and the second week of action in Texas hosted some high-level tournaments all over the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On December 13, we visited the FAST Complex, home to the highly respected [program_tooltip program_id='431166' first='Houston' last='Juniors'] Club, one of the venues for the traditional season-opening tournament, the FAST Warm-Up, which this season featured over 300 teams in 13 divisions that competed across four venues in the Houston area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We followed the matches of the 15 Open Division, which took place in the morning and featured 12 teams, representing 11 clubs from the Houston and Austin areas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/fast-warm-up-15-open-division-saturday-photos/">Fast Warm-Up: 15 Open Division Saturday Photos</a></strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DSQCWU4DqPi/?img_index=1","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DSQCWU4DqPi/?img_index=1 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was exciting to see a new wave of players enter the 15s age group, and I'm now ready to report on the ones who stood out the most in their respective positions. This time, focus on the middles:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Nevaeh Jackson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_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_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='431166' first='Houston' last='Juniors']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69417ca0f2ed3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jackson was part of the HJV 15 Elite team that topped the division with an undefeated campaign of six wins. A versatile player, she played in the middle and on the right for them, keeping a solid level in either position. Jackson used her physical tools to make an impact at the net, getting off the floor well and making contact with the ball very high on offense. She was also among the event's top blockers, moving very smoothly and playing aggressively above the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":919147,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/2J4A0101_177ae8.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-919147" /></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":"Aviana Mack","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_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":"Tom Glenn","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Austin Juniors","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69417ca0f2f7a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mack featured for the AJV 15 Adidas side that ranked third with four wins and a loss over the weekend. Possibly the most physical player in the division, she was a stud at the net for them, standing out on both sides of the ball. Mack showed a strong offensive game, using her long arms very well to make contact with the ball at the highest possible point and hitting different sets in the middle. Her blocking was probably even better, as, besides using her size to challenge opponents, she also demonstrated an impressive ability to read plays and react to them. The middle also made a couple of plays that demonstrated above-average agility for a player of her size, going down to keep the ball off the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":919123,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/2J4A0037_368c41.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-919123" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["761523"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69417ca0f300b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pruitt and her TX Legacy 15 Adidas team tied for fifth at the FAST Warm-Up with three wins and two losses. Very long and mobile, she stood out with her dynamic game at the net. Pruitt was a solid offensive weapon for her team, hitting different sets in the middle at a high rate, and also contributed defensively with her blocking, showing impressive reaction speed and quickness to get off the floor. She also served well and consistently got opponents out of system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":919155,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/2J4A0127.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-919155" /></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":"Palmer Pitman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_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":"Au0026amp;M Consolidated","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Bryan-College Station Skyline","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69417ca0f309a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pitman played for the BCS Skyline 15 Royal team that ended up in seventh place with three wins and two losses. Intense is probably the best word to describe her game, as she was always on the move and appeared to give everything she had in every single play. Pitman proved to be a very strong offensive player, getting off the floor very well and displaying tremendous firepower in her swings. She also demonstrated solid ball control and technical skills when making the first contact in free balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Jaci Bigley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_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":"Deer Park","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='745880' first='Houston' last='Stellar']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69417ca0f3122"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bigley appeared for the [program_tooltip program_id='745880' first='Houston' last='Stellar'] 15 Elite team that ranked ninth, with one win and four losses. Standing at 6'1", she provided her team with a big presence at the net and made the most of it to impact the game. Bigley did very well offensively, finding good angles and nice spots for her swings. Her blocking was also effective as she moved well from pin to pin and was very disciplined with how she placed her hands. The middle also showed nice ball control, coming up with solid digs on the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSTKEMSEQv0/">Highlights</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->