GJNC Previews: TAV Houston 16 Black
The most important moment of the season is just around the corner for teams from the 15s, 16s and 17s age group from around the country as the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship will take place at the Las…
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Continue ReadingThe most important moment of the season is just around the corner for teams from the 15s, 16s and 17s age group from around the country as the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 26-July 5.
As many as 728 teams are expected to compete in the 15 divisions for these three age groups and the state of Texas will, of course, be well-represented in the tournament with more than 50 teams expected to make the trip to Nevada.
During the next few weeks, we’ll use this space to present the Lone Star state representatives in the tournament, recapping their performances during the club season and highlighting some of their top prospects.
TAV Houston 16 Black
Part of the storied TAV Houston club, 16 Black will compete for gold in the 16 Patriot division in Las Vegas. With head coach Joe Lind at the helm, the team has enjoyed a successful season so far, with 34 wins and 21 losses obtained. TAV Houston 16 Black topped the podium at the TAV Houston Jingle Ball and the Tour of Texas Qualifier for the San Antonio-Austin area, finished fifth at the Northeast Qualifier and ninth at the Sunshine Volleyball Classic and the Houston Shoot Out 1.
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Players to Watch
Darian Lowden – Outside Hitter – HS: Oak Ridge – 2022
Darian Lowden is one of the foundations of this TAV Houston 16 Black team. A great all-around player, she raises the level of her teammates play with her solid game. Lowden first started in volleyball as a middle blocker but quickly transitioned to outside hitter, where she can make better use of the diverse skills. She’s a strong hitter, who’s able to score from anywhere, including the back row and has a lot of confidence in her defensive and serving skills.
Brooklyn Spikes – Middle Blocker – HS: Conroe – 2024
Brooklyn Spikes’ six-foot frame and her well-developed volleyball skills allow her to play among older players and also to make an impact an impact on her high school team Conroe on her freshman season – she tallied 71 kills, 42 blocks and 41 digs. She has great footwork on offense and has the ability to deceive opposing blockers by turning her body to one direction and hitting to another. Spikes is also a really good blocker as she has great timing and places her hands really well across the net.
Ava Martindale – Libero – HS: College Station – 2023
Ava Martindale works so naturally on TAV Houston 16 Black’s backcourt that the importance of what she does might be overlooked by many. The 5’5” defender just floats on the court chasing balls and her extraordinaire ball control and her impressive quickness help her keeping the ball up in the air most of the times. She’s coming off a really strong high school season with College Station in which she registered 655 digs and 640 passes.