Rankings Update: Bigs In The Class Of ’23

<p>With the recent release of the rankings update, we like to break down our five favorites from each position group. Earlier, we touched on some of the pin attackers that we covet. This article will mention the five middles that have caught our eyes early in this club season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85903" first="Gabby" last="Dean"], 6-4, Team Indiana Elite 17</strong></p> <p>Of the middles in the class of 2023, none have a bigger impact....shoot, none ARE bigger than Miss Dean, whose size alone alters shots from opposing attackers. Quoting an opposing coach this spring, "Hitting against her is like hitting in a grain silo. There’s no room to change your shot." Appropriate, considering we’re in Indiana. After a few short plays, it was obvious that Gabby can alter teams’ game plans. And then she attacked. Her high contact point almost makes the block obsolete, and the ball goes to the floor, just like when she’s blocking. She’s playing up an age group to boot, making her more than capable of making a difference at the next level come fall of ’23.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85897" first="Emily" last="Waddell"], 6-0, Circle City 16 Purple</strong></p> <p>A fast and springy middle that can play either middle position, Emily is just as adept off of one foot as she is off of two. Her speed also helps her get from pin to pin to defend with ease, and is only getting stronger and faster as she’s getting older. Add to this that she’s inching towards attacking at ten feet. And she’s only a sophomore.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85826" first="Ava" last="Vickers"], 6-0, Munciana 18 Samurai</strong></p> <p>Playing on the flagship team for Mike Lingenfelter is an honor. Playing up TWO AGE GROUPS to do so means you’ve done something right in his highly critical eyes, and Ava is no exception. Off of one foot, she’s deadly, whether she’s running the post, a quick slide, or a slide all the way to the pin. Her length is especially advantageous on defense, as her long arms help close blocks when her feet didn’t get there. A highly-trained middle, playing on winning programs both in high school and in club makes Ava quite ready for the next level.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85902" first="Cali" last="Cummings"], 6-0, Union UA 16-1</strong></p> <p>A middle through and through, Cali will be best suited in a program as an M2, since she is so adept off of two feet. Her size and strength are positives for any setting, and her defense is above average. I like that she’s at Union, where the requirement to get in the door is a high volleyball IQ. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="99583" first="Mya" last="Ayro"], 5-11, Academy 16 Elite Yeti</strong></p> <p>Although I’ve seen Mya take some match reps at both pins in a tournament earlier this club season, she is best known for being a strong and fast middle that can go off of one foot as well as two. However, with her attack touch nearing ten feet and her ball control improving, I would not be surprised if she was recruited to be in the "ATH" position, as she can pretty much do anything she wants in the front row. </p>