Tour of Oregon: Top Middles from Portland Metro (2023/2022)

As we tour the state of Oregon, we will be making many stops throughout this great State. We will be stopping by cities big and small, highlighting the best athletes in those places. First stop: Portland Metro! Here are the top middle hitters from the class of 2023 and 2022: 2023 [caption id="attachment_105099" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13527283/Naima-Foster"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-105099" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/naima-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: OSAA[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91314" first="Naima" last="Foster"], 5’10", MB/OH, Valley Catholic High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy Foster had a breakout freshman season as a starting middle for the Valley Catholic High School Valiants. She helped them win a consecutive 4A State championship. An incredibly athletic middle with an insane vertical, she touches 10 feet 2 inches, she is lethal in the middle. Although the middle has been her sweet spot for a few seasons, she is beginning to transition to the outside given her good ball control. Last club season she played for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 15-1 National team. [caption id="attachment_99164" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14137019/Olivia-Maulding"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-99164" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/06/olivia-m-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Athena VB[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91319" first="Olivia" last="Maulding"], 6’2", MB, LaSalle Catholic High School, Athena Volleyball Academy Maulding had a standout season as the lone freshman and starting middle for the LaSalle High School Falcons, helping them finish second in league and making it to the quarterfinals for the 5A State tournament last season. She is a commanding presence on the court with a powerful and strong arm swing. Last club season she played for Athena Volleyball Academy 15 Gold.   [caption id="attachment_112516" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-112516" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/emily-hegar-head-shot-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91334" first="Emily" last="Hegar"], 5’10", MB, Central Catholic High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy Hegar sat out most of her freshman season on Clackamas High School’s Junior Varsity team with an injury, but was still an integral part of the team, helping bring energy to the bench. She will be sporting a different jersey this season as she transferred to Central Catholic High School to play for the Rams. An athletic middle, what she lacks in height, she makes up for in a crazy high vertical. Last club season she played for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 16-3 team. 2022 [caption id="attachment_108679" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9MaAQ67ILAKdYO1PLsfMA"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-108679" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Tess-Masingale-Headshot-e1600037041738-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Cole Petters[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91207" first="Tess" last="Masingale"], 6’3", MB, Jesuit High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy Masingale had a standout sophomore season, competing with the Jesuit High School Crusaders. As a freshman, she was swung up to Varsity but did not see much court time as they had two senior middles, Alyssa Hughes (Gonzaga) and Lauren McCabe (Seattle). However, during the offseason she played for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy, being the only freshman to make the 16-1 team. Competing at that high of a level all club season, she came back in the fall ready to dominant. Being the starting middle, she totaled 188 kills on the season; hitting a .363, and 30 blocks. She was awarded Metro First Team All-League. During the 6A State Championship, she was awarded Most Valuable Player/Player of the Game and All-Tournament First Team, raking up 16 kills and 7 blocks. She has made the AVCA Phenom List two years in a row. She has an incredibly fast arm swing and is a go-to attacker for her setters. She swings fast and hard, terminating the ball play after play. With her 6’3” stature she is an intimidating presence and her opponents struggle to put up a block she is not able to swing around or through. Last club season she returned to play for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 16-1 team. [caption id="attachment_108681" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-volleyball-recruiting/oregon/portland/catlin-gabel-school/sophie-scott1"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-108681" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Sophie-Scott-Headshot-e1600037432220-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Cole Petters[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91209" first="Sophie" last="Scott"], 6’3", MB, Catlin Gabel High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy Scott had a stellar sophomore season, helping Catlin Gabel with a fourth-place finish for the 3A State tournament. She was awarded Lewis and Clark First Team All-League as well as Second Team All-State. Though it is not often seen with middle blockers, during her high school season she had the opportunity to play six rotations due to her exceptional ball control. She has made the AVCA Phenom List two years in a row. At 6’3”, she moves with ease, using her athleticism to be an impact attacker in the middle. She is quick in transition making herself available to her setters consistently. When given the ball she reaches high and swings fast, making her hard to defend. While she is versatile in what she can hit, most impressive is her slide attack which she can nail down the line. When not on the court, she is on the CEVA Advisory Council as she is passionate about mental health in volleyball players. Last club season she played for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 16-1. [caption id="attachment_112517" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13951829/MacKenzie-Berger"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-112517" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/38719-e1602959726135-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: OJVA[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91215" first="MacKenzie" last="Berger"], 6’2”, MB/RS, Gaston High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy Berger took the 2A volleyball world by storm this past season, playing for Gaston High School, with about 250 students total, she was an unstoppable force. Playing all six rotations as both an outside and middle, she helped the Greyhounds finish 14th in the State. With her athleticism and coachability, she has made significant improvements to her game in the span of a year and a half. Touching 10”2’ with a whip of an arm she is able to bounce balls in front of the 10-foot line. She made the AVCA Phenom List for this year. Last club season she played for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 16-1.