KISD/CFISD Varsity Tournament: Five Setters to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high volleyball season is just around the corner in the Great State of Texas and the initial part of the calendar is typically loaded with varsity tournaments, which provide us with great opportunities of having an early look at how teams and prospects are shaping up for the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second weekend of August will have one of those, the Katy ISD/Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Varsity Tournament, which will reunite as many as 48 teams from the Houston area and beyond for three days of competition between August 11-13 across eight high schools in the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll follow some of those matches and bring our reports to you right after the end of the event, but before it starts, let's highlight some of the most promising prospects that will be on the court during the event, starting with the setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62ed203faf2db","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":"Abigail McKinney","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Au0026M Consolidated","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"TAV Houston ","_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":"Abigail McKinney did a great job in running Au0026amp;M Consolidated's offense alongside Ava Derbes in each of the last two seasons, but in 2022-2023, the 5'7” playmaker will have to fly solo after her fellow teammate graduated. That, for sure, won't be an issue for a player of McKinney's talent and volleyball IQ. She is very fluid and smooth with her ball distribution and also adds value to her teams when it comes to playing defense and serving. In just two seasons with the Lady Tigers, she has produced 1,078 assists, 348 digs and 77 aces.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bbd2f88c50f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62ed207caf2dc","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["179888"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='179888' first='Kassidy' last='O'Brien'] was one of the standouts of her Cinco Ranch team that made a solid playoff run last season and her game only got better during the club portion of the season. O'Brien has excellent size at 5'10” and is wise beyond her years. While her technique is excellent and her quick release is a joy to watch, it's her maturity and decision-making that place her among the best in the position. She was highly productive in her freshman campaign with 419 assists, 181 digs, 63 kills and 21 aces and will likely have room to do even more after the graduation of fellow setter Catalina Martinez.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bbd2f88c541"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62ed20d9af2de","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["177531"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='177531' first='Kinslee' last='Smith'] did an excellent job in coordinating the offense of an extremely talented Klein team during the last high school season. With the departures of middle blocker Kierstyn McFall and outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='122888' first='Ariana' last='Brown'], the Bearkats will rely even more on the intelligent distribution of their talented setter, who tallied impressive 1,359 assists, 240 digs, 91 kills and 56 aces last season alone. The 5'9” Smith was used in a variety of roles during the club season and just keeps getting better in every area of her game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bbd2f88c567"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62ed20f1af2df","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["124131"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Brandeis will make the trip from San Antonio to take part in the tournament and with them is coming [player_tooltip player_id='124131' first='Samantha' last='Valadez'], one of the most exciting setters in her age group. She's a true team player and makes her hitters better with her excellent sets and also her leadership. The 5'9” Valadez is a player who fights the entire time on the court and also communicates really well with her teammates. She tries to keep things simple when it comes to her ball distribution and is also extremely active on defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bbd2f88c58a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62ed210caf2e0","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":"Sydney Kyle","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tomball Memorial","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Texas Legacy","_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":"After playing behind more experienced setters last season, Sydney Kyle will likely have a chance to run her own offensive style this year with Tomball Memorial. The 5'7” playmaker likes to play fast and is very quick when it comes to making decisions and acting, which reflects very positively in her game. Besides having great hands, Kyle is also very technical and efficient when playing defense and serving. Despite the limited playing time, she tallied 110 assists, 37 digs and 12 aces during the last high school season, which she followed up with solid performances at the club level with Texas Legacy.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64bbd2f88c5c4"} /-->