Nike Cross Court Classic: 15 Open Middles Who Owned the Net

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Houston area just had one of its busiest weekends in the club season, with the traditional Nike Cross Court Classic coming to town.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The gigantic tournament brought over 700 club teams from Texas and beyond, split into 30 divisions, to the George R Brown Convention Center, in downtown, for two days of intense and fast-paced action between Saturday and Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/03/nike-cross-court-classic-15-open-division-photos/">Nike Cross Court Classic - 15 Open Division Photos</a></strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig Texas was on-site on Sunday morning, when we got to check out the top eight teams in the 15 Open Division, which were playing elimination rounds after ranking first or second in their pools on Saturday. There was some serious talent on the court, and now we'll list the prospects who caught our eye with their strong play. The middles are the topic of today's article:</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":"Lyla Hancock","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Austin Performance","_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-69af48bb2bd49"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hancock was part of the AP 15 Baden team that ruled the division with five wins and a loss. She was the team's main blocker, combining an athletic and long frame with solid instincts at the net. Hancock thrived with her mobility and her ability to get in the way of opposing hitters, and was always alert when handling overpasses and oversets. She also made an impact from the service line, firing aces and getting opponents out of system with her tough floaters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":953580,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/2J4A0079.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-953580" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["952591"],"_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-69af48bb2bdb8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Markell played for the Alamo 15 Premier side that ranked third after getting three wins and two losses. An unorthodox left-handed middle, she was quite impactful with her unique game at the net. Markell was very effective when hitting from both the middle and the left, demonstrating great versatility and the ability to hit different sets. Her blocking was also a factor, as she played with good energy at the net and was very good at reading plays and moving to the pins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":953548,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/2J4A0012.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-953548" /></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":"Ashlynn Hawkinson","_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":"6'2u0022","_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":"Friendswood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='510661' first='Houston' last='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-69af48bb2be40"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hawkinson and her [program_tooltip program_id='510661' first='Houston' last='Skyline'] 15 Black team tied for third place with three wins and two losses. One of the tallest and most physical players in the division, she used her athletic tools very efficiently to make an impact at the net. Hawkinson had one of the most powerful swings in the division and was very consistent with her offense. Her blocking presence was also remarkable, as she got many touches with her blocking, always keeping good balance when going up at the net and moving smoothly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["925018"],"_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-69af48bb2be8a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bigley helped her [program_tooltip program_id='745880' first='Houston' last='Stellar'] 15 Elite team end the tournament tied for fifth place with a campaign of three wins and two losses. Very tall and physical, she offered them a strong presence at the net, making an impact on both sides of the ball. Bigley made the most of her high contact point on offense, also showing great ability to swing into different directions. The middle also did well with her blocking, using her great footwork to quickly get to this pins and playing aggressively above the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":953546,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/2J4A0010_d65c80.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-953546" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->