Nevada Expo Showcase: Five Middle Blockers to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Familiar faces and new prospects will take the court at the Nevada Expo Showcase. This group of 2029 and 2030 middles includes a reigning state champion, two players who helped Mater Academy East reach the playoffs for the first time, and two freshmen I'm looking forward to seeing against a new group of hitters and setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='563109' first='Daylin' last='Fawson'] | 2029 | 6'1” | MB | Bishop Gorman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fawson returns to the Expo after earning Avoli Top Athlete honors at a previous showcase. The 6'1” sophomore is coming off a 5A state championship with Bishop Gorman, where she recorded 21 kills and nine total blocks while hitting .298 across 28 sets. She also carries an impressive 4.0 GPA. Fawson spent time at right side last club season, giving her experience attacking and blocking from the pin. At the Expo, I'm looking forward to seeing how quickly she connects with new setters on quicks and how well she closes the block to the pins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='846638' first='Emily' last='Van Aken'] | 2030 | 5'7” | MB | Centennial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Van Aken did a little bit of everything during her freshman season at Centennial. In addition to playing middle, she gained experience as a pin hitter on both the left and right sides and got reps in serve receive and backcourt defense. She carries a 4.0 GPA and will play middle at the Expo. I'm looking forward to seeing how quickly she transitions off the net and gets available for a quick set after blocking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='758734' first='La'Vhea' last='Hewitt'] | 2029 | 5'10” | MB | Mater Academy East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hewitt was a big part of Mater Academy East's first playoff run, finishing third on the team in kills and second with 33 total blocks in the with the Knights'. With a 30-inch vertical and a 10'3” touch, she can attack at a high contact point and hit over opposing blockers' hands. I'm looking forward to seeing how she uses that reach when running quicks with different setters at the Expo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='922344' first='Kianna' last='Jackson'] | 2030 | 5'8” | MB | Mater Academy East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson made an immediate impact as a freshman, leading Mater Academy East with 70 total blocks and ranking second on the team in kills. At 5'8”, she touches 9'8”, and last club season she played up several age divisions with Vegas Broncos while holding her own against older competition. She helped the Knights reach the playoffs for the first time ever, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she reads unfamiliar setters and adjusts her block at the Expo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='993834' first='Jayson' last='Mayes'] | 2030 | 5'5” | MB | Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mayes played JV as a freshman at Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon and brings club experience in the middle with Chewblocka 14-1. She also has experience playing right side, giving her reps attacking and blocking at the pin. At the Expo, I'm looking forward to seeing how she reads the setter, adjusts to different tempos, and closes the block against hitters from multiple graduating classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are excited to see both familiar and new faces at this upcoming event. Be sure to stay tuned to our Instagram <strong>(<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdignv">@prepdignv</a>)</strong> for live video updates throughout the event and post-event articles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->