H-Town Showdown #2 – 17s – Outsides
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The traditional club tournament H-Town Showdown had the second of its four scheduled stops of the year last weekend in Houston, with more than 100 teams competing in three age groups at three different venues in the region. I was…
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Continue ReadingThe traditional club tournament H-Town Showdown had the second of its four scheduled stops of the year last weekend in Houston, with more than 100 teams competing in three age groups at three different venues in the region.
I was at the FAST Complex on Saturday afternoon, following the 17s Division and got to watch the 16 best-seeded teams compete during the way and to see some of the finest volleyball talent in the state of Texas in action.
Several players stood out for their great level of play and I’m taking the week to feature some of them. Now it’s time we look into some outside hitters who played big roles for their teams:
Ellie Ocampo
Ellie Ocampo
Ocampo was part of a strong outside hitter duo in her Houston Stellar 17 Elite team with Tatum Busch Tatum Busch 5’11” | OH Deer Park | 2024 State TX . A strong all-around player, she contributed to team’s campaign in a variety of ways. Ocampo uses her length really well on offense, extending her reach and finding good spots to hit. She’s also very precise and reliable with her passing and also played as a defensive specialist in some moments during the day. Ocampo also makes the most of her six-foot frame when blocking as she has great reading at the net and does an excellent job of sealing the area of the court she’s assigned to cover.
Battle played a key role in a HJV 17 Elite team that was loaded with heavy hitters. The dynamic pin hitter anchored the team’s passing system alongside libero Alice Volpe Alice Volpe 5’5″ | DS/L Bridgeland | 2024 State #83 Nation TX and created the conditions for HJV’s offensive system flow all day long. Extremely technical and intelligent, Battle is very strong on the backcourt, but she also contributed at the net. Although not the tallest hitter, she’s an unbelievable jumper and an extremely productive offensive player, combining power, technical resources and a very high volleyball IQ.
Highlights
Corbeil was an offensive force for her Katy United 17 Adidas team. She was easily the team’s most-used player at the net and carried their offense throughout the day. Corbeil is not only tall and long, but also extremely explosive and is one of those players who are really exciting to watch on offense because of how much power they have. She’s also very confident in her game and won’t back down or take her foot off the gas even if a big block is standing in front of her. Corbeil also displayed some interesting offensive versatility, swinging from the left, right and the back.
Addison Moss
Addison Moss
After spending the last high school season playing setter with Dawson, Moss is back at her original outside hitter role with Texas United 17 Red. Her versatility and her ability to do anything at a level on the court are the traits that best define her game and make of her an incredibly valuable player. Moss, who also plays on the sand, is very strong on the backcourt, playing a central role in her team’s passing and defensive system. She’s also very efficient at the net, displaying impressive firepower and even better decision-making skills, and thrives when out-of-system and in big moments.
Cook was a key piece in HJV 17 Premier’s offensive system. She came up big with her aggressive game at the net when her team needed it the most and proved to be a player who can be trusted in big moments with some clutch plays. Cook has incredible firepower and jumps really well and because of that her game has always been a lot about power, but she has developed other tools and tricks to score in the last few years. She’s also a solid backcourt player, who holds her own when passing.