Canyon vs. Smithson Valley – Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school playoffs are just around the corner in the state of Texas as we continue to give you the best coverage of everything that's happening across the Lone Star State between August and November.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are, as usual, centering our coverage around promoting the most intriguing prospects around the state with articles that will highlight their standout performances and statistical milestones and also team features.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As much as possible, we'll also try to every Tuesday and Friday preview an interesting match that's set to happen around the state, pointing out the most impressive prospects that will be on the court in that encounter. This Tuesday, October 18, make the trip to the San Antonio area to watch the duel between the Canyon Cougars (37-6) and the Smithson Valley Rangers (32-7) at 7 PM.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both the Cougars (11-0) and the Rangers (10-1) have secured their spots in the postseason but their encounter could determine which of them will head to the playoffs as the first-placed team in Conference 5A - District 26. Canyon won the team's round one meeting last month 3-1, but three of the four sets were decided by just two points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Canyon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634d6108fc6a7","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141247"],"_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_0_evaluation":"A recent University of Minnesota Crookston commit, the senior right side hitter has been a force for the Cougars. Long and powerful, Jones has been using her skills well to score points, leading the team with 363 kills - she has a 43.4% kill rate and a 0.341 hitting percentage, both the best marks in the entire squad. Jones has also produced 57 blocks up to this point of the season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_634d62c1fc6a8","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12993404/62c25c7002b1d41698a58b9c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634d62c7fc6a9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["142200"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Another Canyon prospect who will continue her career at the collegiate level, Hawkins has recently committed with the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns. Her ball handling has been impeccable in her junior season as she recently surpassed 1,000 assists (currently at 1,092 and averages nearly ten (9.6) per set. Also a shot put student-athlete, Hawkins has tremendous strength and has also been contributing significantly in aces (she ranks first, with 78) and digs (second, with 424).","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_634d643cfc6aa","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15098219/61dc938f3865240c38c329f0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634d6445fc6ab","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["122908"],"_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_0_evaluation":"A long and athletic middle, Pope has an excellent range in her game and provides a great net presence for the Cougars. She's been in great form offensively this season, ranking second in kills (293), and has also been a productive blocker, with the team's second-best mark of 58 stuffs. Pope will play for Trinity at the collegiate level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_634d65d1fc6ac","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15101635/63179555a0223906dcffbdf4' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Smithson Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634d6747fc6ad","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":"Emily Wertz","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Smithson Valley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"SA Force","_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":"An extremely well-rounded and versatile outside hitter, Wertz has been one of the centerpieces in Smithson Valley's playing system this season. Her ability to contribute on both sides of the ball has proven of great value for the Rangers, who rely on her game in every stage of the game. Wertz has responded well, leading her team in kills (297) and ranking second in digs (349) and passes (364).","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_634d699efc6af","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16901892/6348afc0041ddc04e4a642a5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634d68e6fc6ae","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["184364"],"_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_0_evaluation":"The Rangers have one of the best, if not the best, libero in the district in Fedyk. 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