MLK Invitational: Five Right Sides to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Martin Luther King weekend is always one to circle in the club volleyball season calendar and it's no different in Texas as the Lone Star State is set to host a big event in the upcoming three-day weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLK Invitational will take as many as 279 club teams from several different states to the NRG Center, in Houston, for three days of action and a great opportunity to display their skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig will be following the action over the weekend, but before we get there, let's take a look at some talented Texas prospects who will be on the court. Here are some right sides who will have major offensive roles with their teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"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":"Talia Nelson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Summer Creek","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston']","_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":"The high-jumping Nelson will feature on the right for [program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston'] 15 Adidas in the 15 Open division. A lefty with great offensive range, she gets off the floor very well, makes contact with the ball at a high point and has a well-developed offense, being able to swing with precision in every direction. Nelson, who got some playing time with Summer Creek during the last high school season as a freshman, is also very good at hitting a higher set down the middle in which she fully stretches her arm and swings towards the end line with great success. Because of her impressive hang time and her length, she's also a solid blocker.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447c7b3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20206242/651cd9df3863f40a74e96375' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447c825"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"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":"Gabrielle St. Louis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fort Bend Dulles","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Absolute Volleyball Academy","_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":"The powerful St. Louis will play a big role in the offense of AVA TX 16 Adidas in the 16 Open division. Very long and athletic, the left-handed hitter has an incredible wrist, being capable of changing the direction of her swings at the very last moment. St. Louis can hit quicker or higher sets on the right and that makes it very difficult for opposing blockers to adjust to her game. She also serves well and is a productive blocker.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447c905"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20178467/659c99e45eec840a64d00f2c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447c943"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"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":"Amber Craig","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tomball Memorial","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Texas Legacy","_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":"Capable of playing at either pin, Craig will most likely appear on the right with Texas Legacy 16 Elite in the 16 Open division. She's coming from a strong sophomore high school season with Tomball Memorial and has the ability to carry the team's offense this weekend. Very tall and strong, Craig has a heavy right arm and finds some nice angles with her swings. She's also exremely mobile and explosive, being able to hit with power even in transition plays in which she can't make a full approach. Her blocking is also solid, getting touches on several balls.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447ca30"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18001536/6582eb7bda5c1a00e07893a5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447ca63"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["269804"],"_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 lefty, Porath will have a high usage rate in the offense of her team [program_tooltip program_id='431337' first='Texas' last='Tornados'] 17 Adidas. She first emerged a couple of years ago as a long lefty who could find interesting angles in her swings, but has developed into a much more productive player since then. There's a lot more power in her offense now, as well as a handful of different shots in her arsenal, and that showed in one of our recent Top 250 Expos, when she was recognized as one of the 'Game Changers'. Porath also developed her blocking and now has a stronger presence at the net.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447cae2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17953851/65800c9db3d35c0218593ebd' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447cb0f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["205089"],"_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":"Look out for Cieslewicz on the right with Katy United 18 Adidas in the 18 Open division. She's long and explosive and can be really difficult to stop when she gets into a rhythm. Efficiency is the name of the game with her as she manages to consistently put the ball down without flashy plays or too many mistakes. Cieslewicz is also a very strong hitter from the left and has a solid all-around game, being capable of helping her teams with her passing as well. The right side hitter always looks calm and focused on the court and makes good decisions under pressure.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447cb88"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15464828/657c19229681260a186ee0eb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659d6b447cbb4"} /-->