They Got to Share the Court With Harper Murray

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Eight Athletes Who Made the Most of a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity in Houston</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On May 23rd, Houston Junior's FAST Complex became the place to be for some of the most talented young volleyball players in the country. Girls traveled from all corners of the United States for one reason — to be in the same gym as Nebraska standout Harper Murray and get a chance to learn from one of the best in the game right now. And Harper did not disappoint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From the moment the camp kicked off, she was fully locked in with the athletes. She ran demos, walked the floor giving individual feedback, and when the time came for game play, she didn't just watch from the sideline — she stepped in and played alongside the girls. Moments like that are rare. It's one thing to watch a player of her caliber from the stands, but to actually share the court with her? That's the kind of experience that sticks with an athlete for a long time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The excitement didn't stop there. Popular volleyball TikTok creator Marybeeating also made an appearance, pulling athletes aside for interviews and creating content with them throughout the day. For a lot of these girls, getting their moment on camera with one of volleyball's most recognizable social media personalities was just as memorable as the on-court experience. The energy in that gym was something else entirely — you could feel it from the moment you walked in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a scout, I'm always watching regardless of the setting. And at this camp, a handful of athletes made it impossible to look away. Whether it was an arm swing that turned heads, a serve that stopped the gym, or a presence on the court that just commanded attention, these players showed up and showed out. Here are the top performers that stood out to me at the Harper Murray Volleyball Camp in Houston.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["775802"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a13107bd50d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='775802' first='Taylor' last='Harting'] is not your typical setter. Yes, she runs the offense with poise and precision, but what separates her from the crowd is her versatility. Her serve receive was outstanding, showing a level of comfort in the back row that most setters simply do not have. Then she got to the right side and that arm swing was a full stop moment. Powerful, clean, and completely unexpected from someone operating primarily as a setter. She can genuinely do it all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But what may be her biggest asset is everything that happens off the ball. Taylor carries herself with a natural confidence that draws people in without pushing anyone out. She leads without demanding attention, communicates without creating tension, and competes with a level of sportsmanship that coaches at every level look for and rarely find in one package. She is coachable, personable, and the kind of teammate that makes an entire program better just by being in the building.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Any program that gets [player_tooltip player_id='775802' first='Taylor' last='Harting'] is not just getting a setter. They are getting a culture piece.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Jessica Garcia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"Cypress Falls","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='462263' first='TAV' last='Houston']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a13107bd514c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jessica Garcia is a right side hitter that checks every box. She is explosive off the ground, getting up to a height that gives her options most hitters do not have at the prep level. Once she is in the air, she has the ability to cut the ball and fake the line shot on the right side, making her incredibly difficult to read and even harder to defend. That kind of deception combined with a strong arm makes her a nightmare for opposing blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her serve is another weapon in her arsenal. She puts real pressure on the other team from the service line and backs it up with solid serve receive on her end. She is quick and agile, moving around the court in a way that makes her effective in all phases of the game, not just at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And beyond the volleyball, Jessica is one of the sweetest athletes you will come across. That kind of character matters. Programs are not just recruiting a player, they are recruiting a person, and Jessica Garcia is exactly the kind of person that makes a program better on and off the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["763029"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a13107bd5175"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='805315' first='Tahlia' last='Parker'] is a Houston native and rising senior who brings a level of versatility to the court that is hard to find in a pure outside hitter. She is tall, lean, and has a beautiful arm swing on the outside, but what really caught my attention was watching her seamlessly adjust that same arm swing on the right side. That kind of adaptability is a college coach's dream.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her line shot is clean and precise, and she is not the type of hitter who just swings and hopes for the best. Talia picks her shots, reads the block, and makes smart decisions in the air. Speaking of the air, she gets up. She jumps high enough to get over blocks that most hitters would have to tool or redirect, and that changes the dynamic for any offense she is a part of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What made her performance even more impressive was getting a glimpse of her setting. It was not something she was brought in to do, but she handled it with a level of comfort that was genuinely surprising. The natural feel she has for the game across multiple positions suggests that her ceiling as a player is still very much undefined.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tahlia is a Houston product who is ready to compete at the next level. College programs looking for a smart, versatile, and explosive outside hitter need to be paying close attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Madeline Breaux","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Orangefield","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a13107bd51b3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madeline Breaux is the kind of player that makes you stop your conversation and turn toward the court. Her serve is flat out lethal. She puts pressure on the passer from the moment the ball leaves her hand, and that alone makes her a weapon before the rally even begins. But Madeline is far from a one trick player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her serve receive was really solid, showing she can handle pressure on both sides of the ball. She is not just someone you hide in the back row hoping the other team avoids her. She holds her own and competes. At the net, she gets up high with a powerful and controlled arm swing that is difficult to defend. There is real force behind her attacks, but what stands out is the control she maintains within that power. That combination is not easy to find, especially at the prep level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madeline brings a well rounded game that translates to multiple positions on the court. College coaches looking for a versatile right side or outside option who can impact all three phases of the game need to have her name on their list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["987643"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a13107bd51d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='987643' first='Ryan' last='Hawkins'] is another eighth grader who walked into this camp and made every single person in the gym take notice. She has not played a single day of high school volleyball yet, and she is already doing things on the court that make you do a double take.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first thing you notice is the arm. Ryan brings a heaviness to every attack that is hard to describe until you hear it. There is a boom behind every single swing, and it is not just power for the sake of power. She is highly focused on placement, knowing when to put the ball away and when to work the angle rather than just swinging away. That kind of volleyball IQ at this age is genuinely impressive and speaks to how serious she is about developing her game the right way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her serve receive is really solid too, which opens the door for her to develop into a six rotation outside hitter as she grows into the high school level. She is communicative, vocal, and carries herself with the kind of presence that naturally draws a team together. Leadership is already embedded in the way she competes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='987643' first='Ryan' last='Hawkins'] is another name college coaches need to write down today. By the time she gets to the recruiting conversation, the only question is going to be which program is lucky enough to land her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Makiyah Andrews-Hillis","_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":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Klein Cain","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='431166' first='Houston' last='Juniors']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a13107bd5211"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Makiyah Andrews-Hillis is a Houston native and rising senior who brings everything you want to see in a libero and defensive specialist. From the moment the ball is in play, she is moving. She gets to the ball quickly, sets her feet, and delivers. Her serve receive is accurate and consistent, and her defensive discipline is evident on every single play. She is not just reacting, she is anticipating, and that is what separates a good back row player from a great one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her coverage is another standout aspect of her game. She stays disciplined in her positioning and never takes a play off, making sure her team always has someone ready to pick up what the front row leaves behind. When the ball gets off the net or a set goes off the system, Makiyah has the hands to take the second ball and set her team up to still be dangerous. That is a skill that a lot of defensive specialists do not have, and it adds a whole other dimension to her value on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beyond the volleyball, Makiyah is a communicator. She is calling ball, reading the defense, and letting her teammates know where the open shots are in real time. She does it all with a sweet and friendly demeanor that makes her the kind of person every team wants in the back row keeping things together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Makiyah Andrews-Hillis is a complete defensive player and a Houston product who is more than ready for the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Bella Brooksley Elliott","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Capstone Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='429883' first='Tsunami' last=''] Volleyball Club","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a13107bd524b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Do not let the age fool you. Bella Brooksley Elliott is only in the eighth grade and she is already turning heads at camps with some of the best prep talent in the country. The Atlanta native walked into gym and immediately captivated the room. Her presence was undeniable before she even touched the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tall, lean, and incredibly agile, Bella moves around the court with a fluidity that you simply cannot teach. Her arm swing is a whip, fast, explosive, and powerful in a way that is genuinely rare for a player who has not even stepped foot on a high school court yet. She plays both the right side and outside, and her versatility at this stage of her development speaks volumes about her ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The personality she brings matches the talent. She lit up the gym and had everyone's attention from the moment she started competing. Once she gets into a high school program and starts playing at a faster pace, the growth she is going to experience is going to be something to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bella is not just a name to remember. She is a name you are going to be hearing for a very long time. College coaches, start the file now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Angelina Ciupitu","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Clear Lake","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Sporting Edge Volleyball","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a13107bd5283"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Angelina Ciupitu made her presence known early. It did not take long before the coaches running the camp had their eyes locked on her, and once you saw her play, it was easy to understand why.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her serve is aggressive and accurate, a combination that a lot of defensive specialists struggle to bring together consistently. She is not just putting the ball in play. She is weaponizing her serve and making the other team uncomfortable from the jump. But what really sets Angelina apart is her approach to defense. She is not afraid to go for every ball, and more importantly, she knows the difference between when to dive and when to stay on her feet. That kind of court awareness and decision making is something coaches at every level look for in a back row player and it is not something that is easy to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She is quick, she communicates constantly, and she has just the right amount of competitive edge without ever becoming a liability to her team. She reads the game, she talks her teammates through it, and she competes on every single play. Defensive specialists who bring that kind of energy and intelligence to the court are invaluable, and Angelina is exactly that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Events like this are a reminder of why camps matter beyond the drills and the reps. When a player of Harper Murray's caliber pours genuine time and energy into young athletes — giving real feedback, running real demos, and stepping onto the court to compete alongside them — it sets a standard. It shows these girls what dedication, presence, and love for the game actually look like up close. Add in the presence of Marybeeating capturing those moments and putting these athletes in front of an even bigger audience, and you have a camp experience that went far beyond the gym floor. That alone was worth the trip, no matter where you traveled from.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But what made this camp truly special was the talent that showed up to match that energy. The athletes featured here didn't just attend — they competed with purpose and left a mark. College coaches, take note. This group is hungry, skilled, and ready to be seen. We'll be watching them closely as their recruiting journeys continue to unfold, and we have a feeling we won't be the only ones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->