Tuesday Match to Watch: Eastlake vs Franklin
High school volleyball is underway in the state of Texas. Since the first week of August, teams from across the Lone Star State have been back on the court, battling each other in some fantastic matches, which are bringing the…
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Continue ReadingHigh school volleyball is underway in the state of Texas. Since the first week of August, teams from across the Lone Star State have been back on the court, battling each other in some fantastic matches, which are bringing the best of the sport in the state.
Twice a week, we’ll use this space to recommend some matches to keep and eye on and, most importantly, some of the most interesting prospects you’ll want to watch if you have an opportunity.
This will be a very interesting match, reuniting two of the strongest teams from the El Paso area on Tuesday, October 12:
Eastlake vs Franklin – 6.30pm
The Lady Falcons from the Eastlake High School are enjoying a positive season so far, having won 24 and lost just ten of their matches. The team coached by Justine Farmer enters this meeting motivated by back-to-back win in their last matches and currently rank third in the Class 6A, Region I – District 1 with seven wins and just two losses.
The Cougars from the Franklin High School sit at the top of the same district with an undefeated league record of nine victories and just three sets dropped. Head coach Sylvia Sandoval and her players are up to one of the best performances in the entire state so far, with 36 wins, including the last 18 in a row, and just three upsets.
Players to Watch – Eastlake
Anaelena Ramirez – Outside Hitter – Club: Texas Performance – 2022
A 6’2” outside hitter, Anaelena Ramirez carries Eastlake offensively. Very long, athletic and reliable, she has already tallied 322 kills (4.6) so far in the season, more than 40 percent of the team’s entire production in that department. Awarded as last year’s District’s Hitter MVP, Ramirez substantially improved her overall game over the years, which allows her to lead the Lady Falcons in aces (28) and rank second in digs (251). She has recently committed to Grand Canyon University.
Kayla Quintana – Setter – Club: Power Sports Academy – 2022
Kaykla Quintana is another senior who’s been producing in large scale for Eastlake this season. As the team’s starting setter, the 5’5” prospect has been doing a great job in combining with her hitters, having already handed out 594 assists, to an average of 8.5 per set (her career total is currently at 1,291). Quintana has also been productive on defense, with 141 digs, and from the service line, with 18 aces.
Players to Watch – Franklin
Paulina Acuna – Outside Hitter – Club: Texas Performance – 2022
Paulina Acuna is one of the most explosive hitters in the state despite her 5’8” frame. The Franklin outside hitter can jump out of the gym and has one of the heaviest arms you’ll see, a combination that makes of her nearly unstoppable. Rare are the Cougars matches in which Franklin isn’t the team’s top scorer. This season, she’s already hit a whopping 521 kills (4.9 per set). Acuna, who shared last season’s District’s Hitter MVP award with Ramirez, has also registered 51 aces, 289 digs and 360 passes for Franklin already this season.
Madison Blanco – Setter – Club: Texas Performance – 2022
Working with a great setter is always one of the keys for success for hitters and Acuna has been privileged to have Madison Blanco on her side. Awarded as the District’s Setter MVP last season, the 5’7” Blanco is one of the best in the business. Her ball handling skills are second-to-none and she has already surpassed 1,000 assists this season alone – she’s currently at 1,054, to an average of 9.9 per set. Blanco is also an excellent server, leading Franklin in that category with 55 aces, and a superior defender, ranking second in the roster with 306 digs.