AVC 18’s National Qualifier – Setters to Watch
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President’s Day weekend is always one to be circled in red in the club volleyball season calendar and, between Saturday and Monday, all eyes will justifiably be turned to the NIT Triple Crown, one of the most prestigious events of…
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Continue ReadingPresident’s Day weekend is always one to be circled in red in the club volleyball season calendar and, between Saturday and Monday, all eyes will justifiably be turned to the NIT Triple Crown, one of the most prestigious events of the year, which will reunite as many as 7,000 prospects from the entire country in Kansas City.
The Dallas Convention Center, however, will also be hosting an important event this weekend with the 2023 AVS 18’s National Qualifier taking place from Friday to Sunday and will serve as a qualifier for the 2023 USAV Girls 18s National Championship, which will be held in Columbus, Ohio, at the end of April.
As many as 136 teams from Texas and other states are entered to compete in the four divisions (18 Open, 18 USA, 18 Liberty and 18 American) and in those teams are some of the most talented class of 2023 prospects in the state of Texas. As we warm up for the event, let’s take a look at some of the most talented players who will be on the court, starting with the setters.
One of the top class of 2023 players in the state of Texas in her position, Mattox will be setting for AJV 18 Adidas in the 18 Open division. The technical and intelligent setter will be a key player for her team and will for sure make the most of her talented group of hitters. Mattox likes to push the tempo when working with ideal conditions, but is extremely precise and efficient when out of system. Her 5’11” frame makes of her a solid player at the net, capable of scoring with aggressive setter dumps and making a positive impact with her blocking, but Mattox is also very good on the backcourt with her solid defensive skills.
Highlights
Clark is definitely another setter to keep an eye on in the 18 Open division, where she’ll be playing with TAV 18 Black. Extremely consistent with her locations and intelligent with her ball distribution, she’s one of those setters who make her hitters look better on the court. Clark is really quick to get to the ball and is unafraid to take risks with her sets, often going against the flow. She also offers some really important leadership from the setter position and works really hard on the court, setting an example for her teammates.
6’2″ setters certainly don’t grow in trees but that’s just one of the things that make Fifer so valuable for her Tejas 18 Black team that will compete in the 18 USA division. She has been a force for her high school team Liberty Christian over the last few years and has also been standing out at the club level. Fifer is very calm on the ball and runs her team’s offense as well as anyone, making good choices and putting her hitters in a good position to score. Her height is also a massive asset at the net as she’s not only a very good blocker but also, as a lefty, excellent at setter dumps.
Jennings will be in action with TX Legacy 18 Elite in the 18 USA division. She will certainly be on the most reliable setters on the field and not many players are capable of operating so smoothly in different conditions as she is. Jennings has a great touch on the ball, but also does a lot of heavy work before making contact with the ball by tracking passed extremely well and placing her body in the best position to make plays. She’s very effective with her decision-making and also contributes on the backcourt and with her leadership.
Grace Krohn
Grace Krohn
Krohn will be setting for Asics Willowbrook 18 Gold in the 18 USA division this weekend. She’s a very cerebral player, who has matured a lot by playing one age group up for most of her club career, and adds a lot to the team in terms of consistent production. Krohn has good hands, but what really stands out in her game is the mental side of it, as she’s always very calm, focused and grounded. She might not be a setter that will make flashy plays all day, but her teams know exactly what they’re going to get with her and that’s consistency and efficiency. Krohn is also a good blocker and has improved her mobility over the years.