Thursday’s Big Match-Ups at KISD/CFISD Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tournament season is upon us in Texas. Thursday starts the kick-off for tournaments all over the state, and some of the biggest names in volleyball will get the chance to showcase their talents over 3 days. The KISD/CDISD Nike Invitation Tournament starts on Thursday at 6 locations around the greater Houston area. In one of the most competitive tournaments of the pre-season, teams from all around Texas will travel to compete. Below we will analyze some of the biggest match-ups and the players that you should be keeping an eye on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Canyon vs. Cedar Park</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playoff rivals Comal Canyon and Cedar Park will meet in the early pre-season Thursday at 3:15 at Katy High School. It will be a battle of the middles as Canyon has a trove of big middle blockers with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122908' first='Courtney' last='Pope'], Kloey Cato,</strong> and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='211667' first='Josslyn' last='Abel']</strong>. Cedar Park's block leader <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='87568' first='Nia' last='Cummings']</strong> will have to account for those players which shouldn't be a problem with her career 154 blocks. The libero matchups will be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='179887' first='Callie' last='Krueger']</strong>, Canyon's sophomore libero, and one of the best passers in the state, and Cedar Parks<strong> Isabell Woo</strong>. The heavy hitting <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='141247' first='Maya' last='Jones']</strong> will be back on the right side for Canyon and she will have to watch out for 6 rotation setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='87574' first='Dylan' last='Gilkey']</strong> for Cedar Park.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Bridgeland vs. Klein</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two 6A powerhouse programs Bridgeland and Klein will face off for the first time this season Thursday at 3 pm at Bridgeland High School. Bridgeland will have to put up a big right-side block up against Klein's outside hitter <strong>Rachel Heilbrun</strong>. Rachel had 259 kills last season and hit a lot out of the back row as well. Bridgeland's 6'0 right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155122' first='Amelia' last='Creacy'] </strong>may be able to fill that position for the Bears. Klein will also have to defend Bridgeland's stud outside hitters <strong>Olivia Waggoner </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='87547' first='Kennedy' last='Kays']</strong>. If Klein wants to be successful they will also have to use North Carolina A&amp;T commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='87538' first='Mikala' last='Sampson'].</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Tompkins vs. Klein Collins</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tompkins and Klein Collins is a great matchup. Collins can put up a sizable block against Tompkin's stack of hitters. Obviously Tompkins will have to use <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='87549' first='Cindy' last='Tchouangwa']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='197076' first='Skylar' last='Skrabanek']</strong> for a lot of offense on the outside position and Collins has some great blockers like senior middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='178668' first='Ariana' last='Goode']</strong> who had 78 total blocks last year, and 6'1 right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='186231' first='Anna' last='Blaine'].</strong> Both teams also have excellent setters. For Tompkins its senior <strong>Presley Powell,</strong> who is committed to the Colorado School of Mines. Collins has an up-and-coming sophomore setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='184155' first='Carleigh' last='Schluter']</strong> who played up in age level last club season. Expect to see her dishing out a lot of the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Grand Oaks vs. Stratford</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grand Oaks and Stratford is an interesting match-up being that it's mostly a young vs. seasoned squad. Grand Oaks does have some experience with junior middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='124153' first='Jaela' last='Auguste']</strong>, and junior setter<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='216523' first='Audrey' last='Terry']</strong>, but some of their best offense and defense is coming from their sophomores and freshman. Defending the Florida commit Jaela will be Stratford's senior libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='87582' first='Olivia' last='Abbott'].</strong> Olivia is scrappy on defense and makes you work to score on her. She will also have to pay attention to 6'0 freshman outside hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='318128' first='Halle' last='Thompson']</strong> and 6 rotation outside hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180175' first='Samara' last='Coleman'].</strong> Stratford's 6'3 middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176727' first='Sharlotte' last='McClintock'] </strong>should help out on the block as well as senior opposite hitter <strong>Sophia Cornell</strong>. Stratford's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176640' first='Skylar' last='George']</strong> will be getting a lot of hitting opportunities from the outside, and Grand Oak's freshman libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235997' first='Cali' last='Reece']</strong> will have to step up. Catch this game Thursday at 9:00 am at Cy-Woods High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Fort Bend Austin vs. Tomball Memorial</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams are reloading after big offensive losses. Austin will have to put more balls in the hands of outside <strong>Carli Banks</strong> and middle <strong>Ellie Pringle.</strong> Returning for Tomball Memorial is senior libero <strong>Astyn Casey</strong> who will have to defend those two. Tomball Memorial's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='192650' first='Tanner' last='Charron']</strong> will return as the outside hitter. Standing at only 5'8, Tanner plays with so much aggressiveness and has really worked on her game at the net. Austin's two setters will return to run the show, and both are very good in their own respects. Assist leader <strong>Kyla Paulino</strong> will have to make sure Austin's offense is on point to pull out a win over Tomball Memorial. You can watch this game at 12:45 at Cinco Ranch High School. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After Thursday's pool play is complete, teams will be re-seeded for Friday's pool play. Check back here to see Friday's best match-ups!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->