Mizuno Cross Court Classic: The Class of 2024 Emerging Talent
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There was a lot of volleyball in Houston this past weekend with the 2021 edition of the Mizuno Cross Court Classic taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center from Saturday to Sunday. The tournament featured nearly 700 teams…
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Continue ReadingThere was a lot of volleyball in Houston this past weekend with the 2021 edition of the Mizuno Cross Court Classic taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center from Saturday to Sunday.
The tournament featured nearly 700 teams and had divisions from the 11s to the 18s in an infrastructure that had volleyball going on in as many as 85 courts inside the building. We focused our coverage in the 15s, 16s and 17s Open division and will present the top performers during the week.
It’s time we look at the 15 Open division. It was one of the toughest divisions in the tournament as no team managed to remain undefeated during the two days of competition. Xcel Volleyball 151 and SA Magic 14 Elite were the ones that got closest to perfection with five wins and just one loss while Texas Fury 15 Legacy and CVC 15 Mig secured four wins and one setback.
Here are the players who stood out in the event:
Tatum Busch Tatum Busch 5'11" | OH Deer Park | 2024 State TX – Outside Hitter – HOU Stellar 15 Elite – HS: Deer Park – 2024
This might be odd to say about a 2024 player, but Tatum Busch Tatum Busch 5'11" | OH Deer Park | 2024 State TX was at her usual great form during the tournament. She might not have been around for too long, but Busch’s consistency in her first high school season pushes us to expect great things from her every time she steps on the court and she delivered once again. At 5’11”, she’s very long and athletic and she makes great use of her physical tools to be dominant at the net. Less-than-ideal, transition sets are no issue for her as she masters the art of adjusting her approach to make sure she makes contact with the ball at the best possible spot. Pairing that with her great technique could only translate into a positive outcome and that’s why Busch ranks 16th at our 2024 Prep Dig State Rankings.
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Jazmine Gaston Jazmine Gaston 5'9" | OH Anderson | 2024 State TX – Opposite/Outside Hitter – Texas Fury 15 Legacy – HS: Anderson – 2024
Like Busch, Jazmine Gaston Jazmine Gaston 5'9" | OH Anderson | 2024 State TX is a member of our 2024 Prep Dig State Rankings, being listed as the 51st best prospect in the state in her age-group. Her strong game carried her team Texas 15 Fury Legacy to a great run in the tournament with one, hard-fought loss all weekend. The 5’9” Gaston is skilled enough to play as an outside hitter as her great defensive game leaves no doubt, but she might be better off as an opposite, where she can focus almost entirely on the best part of her game which is her offense. Gaston is not the tallest player out there, but she can jump and has an outstanding court vision, which allows her to maintain a high-efficiency rate even without the best conditions. She’s a force at the net and her team made sure to take advantage of it, setting her consistently.
Avery Psencik – Middle-Blocker – Aggie Elite 15 National – HS: College Station – 2024
Avery Psencik was a key piece of an Aggie Elite 15 National team that played really well during the entire weekend. The 5’8” middle-blocker had a central role in the team’s playing system, be it on offense or defense, with a very solid and efficient game. Her side out game was really effective and got the team out of difficult situations quite a few times during the tournament while her blocking presence also produced good results for the team because of her lateral quickness and good jumping ability. One thing that stands out about Psencik is her natural ability to be a leader. She was one of the most talkative players in the entire division, always encouraging and instructing her teammates during matches.
Rowan Haecker – Right Sider – Texas United 15 Red – HS: St. Agnes Academy – 2024
Rowan Haecker played a few different roles for Texas United 15 Red during the tournament and she did well in all of them. The 5’9” right sider showed to be an interesting setter, running a fast-paced offense and combining really well with the middle-blockers l. When she was at the net, she converted into a strong and crafty opposite, one that scored a lot of points for her team in a variety of different ways. A tricky serve and superior defensive skills completed Haecker’s game, arguably one of the best-rounded in the entire division.