Final Stat Stuffer Roundup: Middle Blockers
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Our postseason stat stuffer roundup continues today with middle blockers! Here are some of Nebraska’s middles who ended the 2021 season with impressive statistical output. Lethal Efficiency Of course, middle blockers get fed a lot of in-system attacks. Even…
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Continue ReadingOur postseason stat stuffer roundup continues today with middle blockers! Here are some of Nebraska’s middles who ended the 2021 season with impressive statistical output.
Lethal Efficiency
Of course, middle blockers get fed a lot of in-system attacks. Even so, a lot of Nebraska’s middles finished 2021 with some eye-popping hitting efficiencies.
Believe it or not, the top of the hitting percentage board has been occupied by two sophomores for most of the year. JoLee Ryan JoLee Ryan 5'9" | OH Overton | 2024 State NE and Nora Wurtz Nora Wurtz 6'4" | MB DC West | 2024 State #109 Nation NE were constant scoring threats throughout the season, and it yielded a season attacking efficiency above .400 for both of them. Not only are these two dominant on the volleyball court, but they help demonstrate a growing trend of great small-town middles in the Cornhusker State.
Let’s expand on this trend with a few more names. Brenna Schmidt Brenna Schmidt 6'4" | MB Elmwood-Murdock | 2022 State NE dazzled the Lincoln crowd with a few huge performances for Elmwood-Murdock in the Class D1 tournament. She has a unique ability to terminate on high sets and can attack out on the pin, too. Meanwhile, the star of Class D2 was Sacred Heart’s Erison Vonderschmidt Erison Vonderschmidt 6'0" | RS Falls City Sacred Heart | 2022 State NE , who finished the year in the top five statewide in hitting percentage. In Class C2, Chloe Hanel Chloe Hanel 5'11" | MB Clarkson/Leigh | 2024 State NE had a huge year for Clarkson/Leigh and helped the Patriots to another postseason appearance.
That’s a lot of great talent coming from the state’s smaller schools, but the big cities were not lacking in efficient middles, either. Grace Kremer Grace Kremer 6'0" | MB Skutt | 2022 State NE took a big step forward for Omaha Skutt and hit nearly .400 in her final year with the program. Sadie Millard Sadie Millard 5'9" | MB Millard West | 2022 State NE was similarly effective for Millard West, and Brooklyn Fuchs Brooklyn Fuchs 6'2" | MB Lincoln East | 2023 State NE hit north of .300 in her senior campaign with Lincoln East.
Raising the Roof
Now that we’ve some of the big producers on the offensive end, it’s only fair that we give a shoutout to some of the state’s shutdown blockers.
Again, there’s a lot of variety on the leaderboard. Kensington Tekrony Kensington Tekrony 6'0" | MB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE and Mia Mroczek Mia Mroczek 6'2" | MB Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE finished as the two top blockers in Class A, and that was undoubtedly a key factor in both of their teams ascending to the state semifinals. Regan Haith Regan Haith 6'1" | MB Lincoln Pius X | 2022 State NE of Lincoln Pius X was another middle blocker who locked down the net in this division.
Small-town representation is strong here, too. Lexi Schroder was the do-everything middle blocker who helped lift her Stuart team to a postseason run. Lexi Eickhoff also had a standout sophomore campaign for Hartington Cedar Catholic. Other ball-stuffing middle blockers who ended the year at state include Cameran Jansky, Allison Wieseler, and Jozy Piper.