Countdown City Classic: Five Middles to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most traditional end-of-year club volleyball tournaments in the state of Texas, the Countdown City Classic will be held in San Antonio this coming weekend, from Friday to Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be a massive event, with as many as 483 teams from around the Lone Star State competing in 16 divisions from U11 to U18 at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Open divisions will be particularly strong, reuniting some of the most talented prospects in Texas and as we get ready for the start of the action, let's take a look at a few names that have what it takes to stand out from the competition. Don't miss these middle blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["443007"],"_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":"Langellier was one of the standouts of our Freshman Showcase in Houston in the summer and she was in excellent form during her first high school season, leading Dobie in blocks and ranking second in kills. Her offensive game is extremely well-developed for a player of her age as she can hit several different sets and manages to find difficult angles in many of them. That paired with her impressive physical tools and great mobility on the court made of Langellier a very strong offensive player. She'll be with HJV 15 Elite this weekend.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ae15777a95"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18904245/657640e1d21b3f06e8964490' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ae15777ae9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254288"],"_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":"Pyle was one of the most impressive middles in the 15s in the last club season and will come back to show even more with [program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston'] 16 Adidas this year. A long and athletic player who makes a very explosive approach, she's a strong point-scorer for the team, using her reach and power to put the ball down. Pyle also moves well on the court and is very smart with how she uses her arms to put pressure on opposing hitter when blocking. She played as an outside hitter for Providence Classical in the last high school season and can now also hit from the pin, besides having developed other areas of her game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ae15777b4f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19782648/65528d71c11a7e045c459b2d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ae15777b70"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["399562"],"_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":"Parks had a very strong club season in 2023 and is now a key piece in her United VBA 16 Adidas team. She's a high-energy middle who stands out offensively because of her length and because she never holds anything back when she goes up at the net to swing. Parks is also a capable blocker and a dangerous server, who often gets opponents out of system. Parks, who is also able to play on the right, spent the last high school season playing on the pin, adding another level of versatility to her game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ae15777bcf"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17256116/65806f966e828d09e88690ef' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ae15777beb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["455703"],"_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 big and phyisical middle, Kostroun offers a strong presence to Roots 17-1 Green at the net. Her blocking is what makes of her a special player as the middle not only moves well at the net, but also reads opponents with great efficiency and picks the right spots to get on their way. Kostroun is also a very strong offensive player, making contact with the ball at a very high point and swinging toward the end line to put the ball down.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ae15777c35"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18077467/6551a052bd6a500720cabc32' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ae15777c50"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["186238"],"_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":"Kuyn's profile is different than most middles, but her production is on pair with the best in the position. She's more of an all-around player, who could be used on the left or the right, but finds ways to get the job done on both sides of the ball at the net. She's long and extremely mobile and uses these skills to beat opponents across the net. Kuyn is also solid on the backcourt and and can contribute with her passing and defense as well. She plays for Alamo 18 Premier.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ae15777c9b"} /-->