Volleyball adds six players in 2019 Signing Class (pt 1)

Basketball is obviously taking all the attention in this period of the year, but we can’t forget many other teams are working hard towards their respective seasons.

After three seasons in Lubbock in which his team constantly improved its performances, head coach Tony Graystone obtained another good achievement. Indeed, he signed six student-athletes that will compose the 2019 Signing Class. As he said in the interview he granted us in January, there’s a lot of confidence surrounding this year’s class and the certainty that some of these players will be important contributors already in 2019.

Five players come from Texas and one comes from Arizona.

CADI BOYER, MIDDLE BLOCKER, Georgetown, TX (Hutto HS)

Texas Tech Athletics

Official bio (via texastech.com)

Cadi Boyer will graduate early and enroll this spring at Texas Tech after starring three years at Hutto High School in the Austin area. As a senior, she led the Hippos to the district and area titles after going 38-10 and 12-0 in district play and advancing to the Regional Semifinals. She was tabbed All-District 19-5A Second Team after leading Hutto to an Area Championship as a junior. As a sophomore, she received All-District 19-5A Honorable Mention honors and was picked as a PrepVolleyball Sophomore 79 Special Mention, and the No. 1 Blocker in the Nation by MaxPreps.

Highlights:

Analysis:

Boyer is expected to be an important contributor this year. With only two other middle blockers on the roster in junior Allison White (who suffered a major injury last year) and sophomore Karrington Jones, she will take the field immediately and will create her own experience. Already 6’3” tall, Boyer could be particularly effective in the break point phase.

We can see from the video she’s an outstanding blocker, as she reads the opponent setter, and reacts with efficiency. Maybe she lacks a little bit in lateral mobility when she has to move quickly from one side of the court to the other. In the offensive phase, she works perfectly with the ball direction and she’s able to spike both near and far from the setter.

LAUREN DODSON, SETTER/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST, Wichita Falls, TX (Rider HS)

Texas Tech Athletics

Official bio (via texastech.com)

A three-year letterwinner for the Lady Raiders, the setter/defensive specialist was named the 2017 Setter of the Year for District 4-5A. She has twice received first team all-district, doing so a sophomore and again most recently as a senior. In 2018, Lauren helped Rider to district and area titles, finishing 34-8 overall and 8-0 in district with a trip to the Regional Quarterfinals. She was also a member of the club team that reached the finals of the 2018 USAV Girls’ 18s Junior National Championships.

Highlights:

Analysis:

With two setters on the team (sophomore Alex Kirby, who’s expected to be the starter and Audrey Smith), I don’t expect to see Lauren on the court very much. But this won’t be a problem, as she will redshirt this season and will have one more year to learn coach Graystone’s system.

Good setters are a rare commodity, and Lauren seems to be one of them. The highlights show a player who already has a good maturity and owns a quick and precise touch of the ball, in particular with settings intended for the player behind her shoulders. She covers the court as she’s fast in her shifts and movements, and that’s useful in defensive situations.

We can notice she misses some power in the longest sets, but with training and natural growth of the athlete that’s something will be adjusted in a short time. Probably, Lauren will work with former Big 12 Co-setter of the year Missy Owens (who joined coach Graystone’s staff this year) and this will be a further impulse to her development.

LINDSEY DODSON, DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST, Wichita Falls, TX (Rider HS)

Texas Tech Athletics

Official bio (via texastech.com)

A three-year letterwinner for the Lady Raiders, the defensive specialist was named 2018 District 4-5A Defensive Player of the Year after her senior season after helping Rider to district and area titles, a 34-8 record and an 8-0 district mark that culminated in a trip to the Regional Quarterfinals. Her junior and sophomore seasons saw her garner All-District 4-5A Honorable Mention. She was a team captain for her club team that reached the finals of the 2018 USAV Girls’ 18s Junior National Championships.

Highlights:

Analysis:

I don’t know what we can expect from Lindsey. Actually, she’s not on the active roster for 2019, so we can suppose she’s been redshirted.

The video doesn’t show much from her, as she doesn’t perform difficult defenses and she receives mainly easy serves. By the way, results are very good, as she always hits her setter (mainly her twin sister Lauren) without effort. This means she owns good reaction and positional sense, as she finds the ball with few steps. But she could suffer the impact with Big 12-caliber players.

She’s also a good hitter, but her 5’6” height could be an important limit, despite her good jump. I probably see for her a defensive specialist/libero role, but she could also develop in a good pinch server.