Bello set for the HJV 18 Elite team that earned two victories and a loss on Saturday. She was very good at keeping her middles involved, making the team have a dynamic and unpredictable offense at all times. Bello had a great feel for the game, and that helped her distribution, as she consistently made the right choices in her playmaking. The setter also stood out for her all-around game, coming up big on defense and keeping opponents under pressure when at the service line.

Bello continues to show why she is one of the most polished setters in the region. Coming off a long playoff run with Cy-Ranch High School, she displayed strong command of the offense and consistently put hitters in position to score. Her decision-making, tempo control, and leadership stood out in high-pressure moments. With her commitment to Rice University, Bello’s court awareness and composure reflect a player ready for the next level.

The senior setter orchestrated her team’s offense as efficiently as always and kept Cy Ranch in a strong rhythm at the net. Bello was very intelligent with her distribution, consistently picking the right options and showing a great feel for the game. She was also very important when it came to scoring points as, besides operating as a right side hitter in some moments of the match, she put the ball down several times with setter dumps and registered some aces and blocks in what was an excellent all-around performance. Bello was also very calm when dealing with tight passes or passes off the net, making the most of every situation.

The senior setter was very solid with her playmaking and had Cy Ranch’s offense firing on all cylinders throughout the match. The Lady Mustangs tinkered with moving their hitters into different spots during the match, and Bello adjusted extremely well to it, displaying great chemistry with them. Her distribution was on point, as she didn’t unnecessarily overload any of her hitters, while also keeping everyone involved. An excellent all-around setter, Bello showed it again in the first match of the season, scoring points in blocks, setter dumps and aces, besides playing good defense.

Bello is a key piece in the HJV 17 Elite team that will appear in the 17 Open division in Kansas City. She’s been among the best setters in the entire state in her age group for a few years, but recently made a big leap in our Prep Dig State Rankings, showing that despite performing at a high level for quite some time, she’s still been consistently improving. Bello is an excellent all-around player, whose technical and physical skills and volleyball IQ allow her to perform any action on the court at a very high level. As a setter, she thrives with her ability to cover ground and move extremely well on the court, while also having an incredibly clean touch on the ball. Bello also hits, passes, blocks and plays defense at a very high level, bringing a lot to her team.

Zora has made a huge jump in the rankings and is now listed in the top 20.  She is now currently listed as the 19^th best overall prospect in the 2026 Class according to our Prep Dig Texas State Rankings.  She plays volleyball at Cypress Ranch High School and plays club for the Houston Juniors  volleyball program.  There are a lot of athletes in this wonderful class, but one of the most electric is Miss Bello.  The way she floats around the court with grace and speed looks like poetry in motion.  Blessed with both speed and power, she can get to the ball super fast and jump off of the ground in a hurry.  Bouncing line a ball, her feet rarely stick on the ground for long and it is what helps her to track the ball down in order to run her offense so effectively. Recently she chose where she will be playing at in college.  Zora is a special player and she will be a strong leader at Rice University from the moment she steps foot on campus.  Please help us congratulate her on earning a spot in our State Rankings. 

Zora is currently ranked as the 41^st best overall prospect in the 2026 Class according to our Prep Dig Texas State Rankings.  She plays volleyball at Cy Ranch High School and plays club for the Houston Juniors volleyball program.  Miss Bello has risen in our rankings over the years due to her amazing athletic ability in the setter position.  She is still producing at a very high level and this tournament was no exception.  I know all the spectators were like me in marveling at her amazing footwork as she tracked down passes and digs from her teammates.  She makes it look so effortless as she glides around the court.  One of the most awesome aspects of her setting is how she is able to push the ball all the way to the pin, especially when it is against the flow of the pass.  This is one of the hardest things to do as a setter accurately, but she makes it look so easy.  The ball floats out of her hands so smoothly and it is a great sight to see.  It is easy to see why Rice chose to offer her a roster spot in a few years.  Please help us congratulate her on earning a Top Performer award from us for her play during the tournament. 

The junior setter played a very solid match and the fact that Cy Ranch managed to keep a strong offensive rhythm from start to finish is a testament to the efficiency of her game. Bello was very intelligent with her ball distribution, feeding Reynolds every time she had a chance, but also keeping her pin hitters involved. She did what every elite setter does, which is moving her hitters around when in system and setting hittable balls when dealing with passes off the net. Bello wasn’t as active as usual with her swings, but was still very efficient when she was set, siding out in key moments of the fifth set. She also displayed great confidence in scoring the game-winning point on set two with a setter dump in a moment when her team was struggling to side out.

The junior made solid contributions in her double duty as a setter and right side hitter. Bello gave the Mustangs a very interesting offensive rhythm, keeping all her hitters involved and moving them around to maximize their efficiency – she was particularly smart with how she fed her middles. When at the net, she turned into a hitter and was very efficient, making good choices to put the ball down and avoid errors. Bello also made a difference on the backcourt, getting several digs and generating transition plays for her team.