7 Next Level Middles from the Illinois Top 250 Expo.
The middles at the IL Top 250 Expo were explosive and incredibly powerful. It was insanely fun to watch them both during the position work and in the scrimmages. They all brought something unique to the court. Being a middle…
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Continue ReadingThe middles at the IL Top 250 Expo were explosive and incredibly powerful. It was insanely fun to watch them both during the position work and in the scrimmages. They all brought something unique to the court. Being a middle requires a lot of athleticism and having a high volleyball IQ.
Here is a breakdown of seven middles who impressed at the Illinois Top 250 Expo.
Lily Mueller – 6’1” – Sky High Volleyball Club – 2023
Lily immediately caught my eye. In fact, I originally thought she was a pin because she was such a good passer. Lily communicates incredibly well on the court and works well with her setters. She is aggressive on every play and makes huge momentum-changing plays at the net. She was one of the first athletes I made note of at the Expo and was impactful from start to finish.
Kathryn Dean Kathryn Dean 6'3" | MB Tuscola | 2022 State IL – 6’3” – Illini Elite – 2022
Kathryn is hands down a middle you need on your radar. The first time she went up during position work and completely destroyed the ball, my reaction was “woah.” She has great timing, is impactful in front of and behind the setter, and has a ton of power in her approach and arm swing. She was one of the top 2022’s at the expo.
Really fun battle on the middle here with Katherine Dean (2022) and Gabrielle Peter. Both are extremely physical on the net. #PDTop250 pic.twitter.com/6lauK3xnPy
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 5, 2021
Keira Ohse Keira Ohse 6'1" | MB Mother McAuley | 2024 State IL – 6’1” – 1st Alliance – 2024
I can already see the amazing trajectory Keira’s volleyball career is on. She has a ton of power at a young age and is simply oozing with potential. She has good form and transitions well off of the net. Keira is aggressive at the net and has a great view of the court.
Mia Lulinski – 6’0” – Mission – 2023
Mia really impressed me with her ability to seamlessly hit in front of and behind the setter. She has a heavy hand on the ball and has quick and explosive movement across the court. She can hit shots as well. Whether she is hitting to the left or right, Mia has control and power over the ball to put it exactly where she wants it.
Gabrielle Peter – 6’1” – Top Flight – 2023
Gabrielle brings a ton of power to the court. She really caught my eye during scrimmage play where she was dynamic and adapted well to challenging sets. She also powered through blockers or simply hit over or around them. Gabrielle has great court awareness and is always reading her opponents to put up a tough block.
Gabrielle Peter (2023, MB) dynamic in front of and behind the setter pic.twitter.com/fzKuiktRZs
— PrepDigRachel (@prepdigrachel) December 5, 2021
Ruth Ziegler Ruth Ziegler 6'3" | MB Warren Township | 2024 State IL – 6’3” – Sky High – 2024
Ruth has an insane amount of potential. She is a huge presence at the net and a great high contact point on the ball. She is very well-rounded and has great form. From blocking to hitting she has a positive impact on her team.
Alicia Pierre – 5’7” – Top Flight – 2024
Alicia has a lot of potential as a middle. She is fast from pin to pin as a blocker and is always engaged on the court. She will run a play on every ball that comes over the net. Her consistency as a blocker and hitter really sets her apart from other middles. She also has a fast arm swing, a high vertical, and can put some power behind the ball.