FAST Pre Nationals – 17s – The All-Tournament Team
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The club volleyball season is quickly approaching its end, with the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC), the highlight of the year, set to happen from June 23-July 4 in Indiana. The FAST Pre Nationals tournament has established itself…
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Continue ReadingThe club volleyball season is quickly approaching its end, with the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship (GJNC), the highlight of the year, set to happen from June 23-July 4 in Indiana.
The FAST Pre Nationals tournament has established itself as the final event in the Houston area ahead of the GJNC. This year, the tournament was held in three different venues on June 11-12 and offered a final opportunity for us to watch some of the best teams in the state before they had to Indiana to fight for the national title.
We were at the FAST Complex on Saturday afternoon watching the 16s and 17s Power Pools and this time are spending not one, but two weeks producing reports about the event. After looking at the 16s division last week, we’ve analyzed the 17s this week and, after exhausting our positional breakdowns, it’s time to reveal our All-Tournament Team.
Taylor Anderson Taylor Anderson 6'0" | S Cornerstone Christian | 2023 State #21 Nation TX – Setter – Alamo 17 Premier – HS: Cornerstone Christian – 2023
The 6’1” setter was at her best during the event, coordinating her team’s offense with extreme intelligence and efficiency. Anderson is a very complete player and that showed once again during the FAST Pre Nationals as besides handling her playmaking duties, she also helped her team on defense and by scoring points while at the net.
Grace Carroll Grace Carroll 6'5" | RS Cornerstone | 2024 State #21 Nation TX – Right Side – Alamo 16 Premier – HS: Alamo Heights – 2024
The 6’5” right side hitter was on fire and was one of the reasons why her Alamo 16 Premier team was competitive despite playing one age group up. Carroll was as reliable as any other hitter in the tournament and her ability to be productive even when hitting from the backcourt was second-to-none. The lefty also proved to be a very good blocker, shutting down opposing outside hitters that challenge her at the net.
Sydney Jordan Sydney Jordan 6'3" | OH Ridge Point | 2023 State #44 Nation TX – Outside Hitter – HJV 17 Elite – HS: Ridge Point – 2023
Jordan moved back and forth between the left and right sides of the net, but I’ve decided to include her as an outside hitter as that’s her natural position. She once again used her 6’3” frame, tremendous length and technical skills to be a scoring force at the net and still added a lot in terms of passing and defense to her HJV 17 Elite team.
Bianna Muoneke Bianna Muoneke 6'0" | OH Cy Ranch | 2023 State #80 Nation TX – Outside Hitter – HJV 17 Elite – HS: Cypress Ranch – 2023
Outside hitter was certainly a position of strength for division winners HJV 17 Elite as Jordan and Muoneke were both among the best players in the entire event. The six-footer once again showed how lethal and explosive she can be at the net, overpowering opposing blockers and defenders even when she was out-of-system. Muoneke also displayed some improved backcourt skills, proving she’s becoming a more complete player.
Farah Farooq – Middle Blocker – Asics Willowbrook 17 Gold – HS: Episcopal – 2023
The 6’2” Asics Willowbrook 17 Gold middle blocker was dominant at the net, controlling the game on both sides of the ball. Her blocking presence was as good as usual, combining excellent speed in her feet with a well-refined, aggressive hand placement. Farooq was also hard to stop when hitting as handling with her high contact point and extreme power is no easy task.
Thea Carter Thea Carter 6'3" | MB Alamo Heights | 2024 State TX – Middle Blocker – Alamo 16 Premier – HS: Alamo Heights – 2024
Carter played well enough to stand out among older players in a position where physicality is often key. She left nothing to be desired in terms of length with her 6’3” frame and long arms and had some of the quickest feet among the top middle blockers in the event. She was a key player to her Alamo 16 Premier team and provided significant help on both sides of the ball.
Alyssa Manitzas Alyssa Manitzas 5'2" | DS/L Cornerstone | 2023 State #85 Nation TX – Libero – Alamo 17 Premier – HS: Cornerstone Christian – 2023
In a tournament that had a handful of excellent liberos, Manitzas stood out for her consistent production and her leadership role with her Alamo 17 Premier team. The 5’1” defender was everywhere on the court, taking charge of her team’s backcourt game and doing an excellent job in organizing her team’s defensive system.