Six 17U Middle Hitters to watch

Michael Selecky

April 9, 2020 @ 10:24 AM

By Michael Selecky Contributing Writer Whether you refer to it as Middle Hitter or Middle Blocker, anyone who plays this position knows it’s lonely at the top. That’s because, in the front row the Middle position is where most defensive efforts start. These are the players with the highest level of responsibility for adjusting and rejecting opposing spikes. Entire game plans have been formulated and executed based on exactly what the Middle Hitter can and can’t do. This rule holds especially true when it comes to 17U competition here in Michigan. As for who exactly is minding the store at this spot is a pool of talent that’s as deep as it is rich and includes…   NICOLE MILES In her game film on Maxpreps.com Miles exhibits a true feel for the flow of the other team and uses that to hit the ball where they aren’t. At the same time she can wield her right arm like a hammer when that’s what it takes to get things done. In club play this five-foot-eleven junior suits up for Legends 17 ADIDAS and during the high school season she competes for Brighton. This year in prep play she was in action for 45 sets and posted 29 kills, 26 triple blocks and three blocks.   KAYLEY ULBRIK Playing both ways is something this player does well, as evidenced by the fact she sported 100 kills, 58 triple blocks and 37 blocks this past prep season. That was for L’Anse Creuse North High School in Macomb. Presently she’s a member of Crank It Volleyball’s 17U Becca squad and the class of 2021. As a team the Crusaders went 46-8 overall, 10-0 league, to end up ranked 18th in the state and 674th nationally.   HANNAH KEENAN While now a Middle Hitter for Far Out Volleyball 17 Black, Keenan played for Marshall High School in prep action, which came in ranked 88th in Michigan and 3,043rd nationally. This junior has drawn the attention of Wayne State, and with good cause. Defensively she gets high enough to block shots with her wrists using a two-handed approach. She’s also strong on the serve and gets low incredibly well, a task that becomes that much more impressive when you consider her height.     SASHA AKUEZE The ability to slide to both sides and form a defensive wall at the net in tandem with a teammate makes this player especially important to the overall formula for Legends 17 ADIDAS. On the flip side this five-foot-10 junior at Ann Arbor Skyline High School has a strong right arm and puts a downward trajectory on the ball that forces the opposition to get low quicker than they’re generally able. In 2019-20 she played 142 sets for the Eagles and accumulated 150 kills, 56 triple blocks and 11 blocks.   EVELYN FOOKS This Middle Hitter for Crank It Volleyball 17U Becca experienced the good and the bad during the high school season. That meant this junior at Grosse Pointe North High School was part of a team that went 3-22-1 overall, 1-4 league, during the prep season. Standing five foot-10 Fooks was able to get four sets worth of action for that squad and took part in nine triple-blocks with three kills and one dig.   MAIA BUDRICK Despite not getting as much time as she would’ve liked with Caledonia High School in 2019-20, Burdick still found a way to sneak in 28 kills, 18 digs, seven triple-blocks and one assist. This Middle Blocker is a member of the class of 2021, presently plays for Far Out Volleyball 17 Red and helped the Fighting Scots go 21-23-1 overall, 5-7 league, to earn rankings of 70th in the state and 2,283rd nationally, as well.   Other 17U Middle Hitters worth knowing in Michigan include Lauren Atwell and Allie Mulder of Crank It Volleyball 17U Becca, Molly Kraatz from Crank It Volleyball 17U Baker and Far Out Volleyball Club 17 Black’s Alisha Lefring, [player_tooltip player_id="50316" first="Ella" last="Uganski"] and Maggie Morris. Sharing this trait is, Grace Montes, a Middle Hitter for Far Out Volleyball 17 Red.