February 12, 2024

Let’s get to the second part of our Show Stoppers from the second stop of the Tour of Texas in the greater Houston area. As we mentioned in Part 1, the competition was played at multiple sites and as a result we were not able to get to all groups on both days. However, we did manage to see the 14-17s divisions between both days and below we highlight the players who caught our attention the most. SHOW STOPPERS PART 2 Jaidyn Hartsfield OH Drive Nation 16 Red: Hartsfield is a fun outside to catch doing her thing. She’s an explosive attacker who launches off the ground in a hurry and carries a fast swing as she fires winners front and back row. Sarah Hickman RS HJV 16 Elite: With her size and length, Hickman is an impact right side. She can go right over the top of blocks consistently. She can also put up a big block and make it difficult on opposing attackers. Jasmyn Walker MB HJV 16 Elite: Walker brings a ton of energy and fire to the lineup. She’s a bit undersized but she makes up for it with the way she springs into the air as well as which the speed she does it with. Keoni Williams MB Skyline 16 Royal: Williams is a next-level talent who changes the dynamic of the match when she checks in. She’s long and can get up and over blockers with ease. She also provides a boost with her blocking and ability to help score points that way. LeVariya Pinder OH Skyline 16 Royal: Pinder played in the middle last year but is fitting in nicely on the outside. She’s another high-flying outside who can let it rip. Taylor Clarke RS Skyline 16 Royal: Defenses need to track Clarke because when in system, Skyline loves to feed her the ball and let her do her thing. Kiley Brooks L/DS Skyline 16 Royal: Brooks did a solid job out of serve receive, as well as picking off shots and extending rallies. Dawn Moore RS Madfrog 16 Green: Few players get up in the air like Moore. She’s a bit undersized but she explodes up and lets it go with her lively arm. Gabi Rodriguez L/DS Madfrog 16 Green: Rodriguez was flying around making plays. She was hitting the floor to make ups and covering at the net. Hannah Lee MB Madfrog 16 Green: Lee has a hammer for an arm. When in system, Madfrog is going to get her the ball. Opponents know this and still struggle to stop her. *** DaMya Mann S/RS Alamo 16 Premier: Mann is another player we enjoying watching get after it. She’s a competitor and does a lot for her team both setting and swinging. Hayden Thomas MB Madfrog 14 Green: Thomas is just one reason why Madfrog is among the top 14s teams in the country. She’s a real presence in the middle who opponents need to be concerned about. Grace White MB Madfrog 14 Green: Much of the same could be said about White. She helps give Madfrog a strong 1-2 punch in the middle as there is never any let up for opponents. Sarah Floyd OH/RS TAV 14 Black: Floyd is a next-level talent with unbelievable upside. The lefty passes out of serve receive and with her length she extends high up and unleashes effortlessly. Nicole Jacobson MB TAV 14 Black: Jacobson brings height to the middle. When in system, teams need to be ready because she’s another option TAV can lean on to score points. Caitlin Carrizales L/DS TAV 14 Black: Carrizales is a sharp defender who is rarely off the mark passing. Jennah Lee RS AJV 14 Adidas: There is plenty of potential when it comes to Lee. She has her moments when she gets up on the right side and connects. Hannah Griffin OH AJV 14 Adidas: Griffin is a solid six-rotation outside who AJV relies on a lot. She has a strong arm and was taking big swings. Brooke Oney OH Alamo 14 Premier: Oney is a physical hitter and it makes her tough to contend with. Alamo can use her to swing on the left or the middle. Charlie George MB Alamo 14 Premier: George is another versatile player. She can swing from the left or out of the middle. She also can play middle back when she goes back to serve. *** Audree Hughes OH Madfrog 15 Green: Hughes was doing a great job connecting and giving her team a reliable point scorer on the outside. Aspen Brown RS Hou Skyline 15 Royal: A six-rotation right side who can also pass in serve receive, Brown is a key componenet and holds it down with the way she can score front and back row. Tinsley Welker-Brown S Hou Skyline 15 Royal: Welker-Brown plays under control and doesn’t show any signs of frustration. She sets a nice ball and was getting all her hitters involved. Brynn Stephens S TAV 15 Black: Stephens was running a 5-1 because TAV was playing short-handed. Normally a setter/right side, she showed no slowing down in directing the attack solo and keeping the offense powering forward. Gentry Barker OH TAV 15 Black: A six-rotation contributor, Barker is a heads-up outside who contributors all over. She’s a solid passer, defender and smart hitter. Naomi Livings RS TAV 15 Black: Playing short-handed, Livings took to the right side and added a big, power arm for opponents to deal with. Nyla Livings MB TAV 15 Black: There are times when Livings will make herself known and in loud fashion. Be it with a huge block or timely kill, she knows how to make a difference. Ansley Shafer L/DS TAV 15 Black: Shafer gets after it and brings a defensive edge. She moves well and covers lots of space. Naya Salfiti RS Skyline 17 Royal: A lefty, Salfiti is just part of what make Skyline tough to deal with. They have optins everywhere and her

The latest Tour of Texas stop brought the action to the greater Houston area. With more time under their belts from the first stop, the level and competition took a big step up as teams looked to gain momentum heading into Triple Crown and qualifying season. vballrecruiter.com spent time watching the action on Day 1 and Day 2. With the play spread out across multiple sites, we weren’t able to see every age group both days. However, we were able to catch the action from the 14-17s at various times and below we present the first part of the players who stood out to us the most with our Show Stoppers. SHOW STOPPERS PART 1 Halle Thompson OH Hou Skyline 16 Royal: Thompson’s quickness, agility and leaping ability was on full display. She elevates with ease and unleashes with a fury, making it challenging for defenses to contain her. Jayden Robinson OH Hou Skyline 16 Royal: The size and length Robinson brings to the attack is a real problem. She can extend way up and hit straight over blocks and down. She’s also a legit threat from the back row as well. Julianna Hernandez L/DS TAV 16 Black: An energetic defender, Hernandez adds a spark in the back row. She’s quick, covers well and was passing consistently out of serve receive. Kinsley Young MB TAV 16 Black: Young brought physicality to the front row. She has a power arm and puts up a wall of a block. Anna Flores S/RS TAV 16 Black: Flores is a heady two-way contributor. She’s rarely off with her location and also is able to mix up and place her shots nicely. Danielle Whitmire S/RS TAV 16 Black: Whitmire is another key cog in what TAV is looking to do. She’s the other half of the 6-2 the team runs and she’s a legit scorer who can beat defenses in multiple ways. Henley Anderson OH Austin Skyline 16 Royal: Anderson is one of the top recruits in the class because of her size and skill. She can eliminate blocks by going over them and powering balls down. She’s also effective from the back row. Riley Malloy OH Austin Skyline 16 Royal: Malloy’s size and length is next-level and reason why Austin Skyline boasts one of the most formidable outside duos in the country. She’s another one who can get up and go right over blocks. Christa Wilburn OH/RS Austin Skyline 16 Royal: Wilburn adds a vital piece to the lineup because of her versatility. Depending on what the team wants to do, she can lineup on the left or the right and has the arm to deliver either way. Rileigh Butler L/DS Austin Skyline 16 Royal: Butler was bringing it in the back row and making plays to extend rallies. Teams were also avoided going at her in serve receive. *** Ava Carrasquillo S/RS AP 16 Adidas: Carrasquillo is an integral piece of the lineup. Not only because she sets and hits but because the level that she does it as. Her team definitely looks to get her the ball when she’s front row and when she’s back row setting, she does well mixing up her sets and moving the ball around. Jenna Hehman OH AP 16 Adidas: Hehman is a bit undersized on the left but she’s a feisty outside who doesn’t back down from a challenge. She was going right at bigger blocks and swinging freely. Addison Musgrove S/RS Hou Skyline 14 Royal: Musgrove can play a couple of roles in the lineup. She can set across the back row and sub out or she can stay in and hit across the front. She’s a steady disher with consistent location. She’s also a capable attacker who can score when her number is called. Jada Skinner OH Hou Skyline 14 Royal: Skinner is a wirey attacker who can elevated quickly and unload. She’s someone defenses need to be aware of front and back row because she’s can score from both. Hailey Tinnell MB Hou Skyline 14 Royal: Tinnell brings adds length to the front row. She can be tough to hit around when blocking and also provides a scoring option when she’s in. Taylor Johnson OH Skyline 14 Royal: Johnson is a six-rotation left side who provides her share of punch to the attack. She’s an athletic outside who can really swing it and deliver. Elizabeth Goodlett RS Skyline 14 Royal: Goodlett is another factor on offense. She’s long and can get on top of the ball and beat defenses sideline to sideline. Chloe Smith MB Skyline 14 Royal: Smith is another player who adds size across the front row, along with versatility. She can lineup in the middle or on the right and score from either position. Sade Bello OH HJV 14 Elite: Bello is an up-and-comer in her class. She flashes serious potential at times that shouts next-level material. Else St. Rose MB HJV 14 Elite: Rose is an impact middle. She’s seemingly always making some sort of play – whether it be hitting or attacking – to contribute when she’s in the lineup. *** Brynn Lagasse OH TAV Houston 14 Elite: Lagasse is a central part of the attacker as the go-to hitter in the lineup. She has a lively arm and is a free-swinger who lets it fly often. Maya Ogbogu OH Madfrog 14 Green: Ogbogu is one of the best players in her class with limitless upside. She’s a physical attacker who can overpower defenses with her speed and strength. Nailah Randle OH SA Jrs 15 Adidas: Randle is another rising sensation and she too displays next-level potential. She can really get up and hit from high angles that are very difficult to defend and stop. Kherynton Chinnis MB Skyline 15 Royal: Chinnis is a handful in the middle. She can deliver resounding blocks as well as thunderous kills. Parker Horton MB Skyline 15 Royal: Horton is another middle Skyline can turn to as she too can get