Early Bird Recap: My Favorite Middles
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Hitting up every position group, we move on to the bigs in our business, the middles. Each had their own take on athleticism, size and speed, and some stood out more than others. Here they are! CIRCLE CITY 16 PURPLE…
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Continue ReadingHitting up every position group, we move on to the bigs in our business, the middles. Each had their own take on athleticism, size and speed, and some stood out more than others. Here they are!
CIRCLE CITY 16 PURPLE
For the runners-up in the 15/16 division, I felt that both Scarlett Kimbrell Scarlett Kimbrell 6'0" | OH Franklin Community | 2024 State IN (’24, 6-0, Franklin Community) and Caroline Frost Caroline Frost 5'11" | MB Columbus East | 2024 State IN (’24, 6-1, Columbus East) can be interchangeable at the next level. Both showed size, speed and a presence not normally seen out of this age group. Each athlete had opportunities to hit in front of and behind the setter, although Caroline’s length and attack touch (9’8″?) was the more difficult middle to defend. Both blocked well, moved from pin to pin with ease, and were integral parts of their team’s offense. Not bad for the first tourney out there, ladies.
ACADEMY 17 ELITE TSUNAMI
The top 17s team finished third on the day at the Early Bird, and without the exceptional ball control I touched on yesterday, I’m not sure these three get noticed. I’m a huge fan of Gabby Weihe (’23, 6-1, Noblesville), whose length and aggressive nature scored points at will in the matches I watched. She’s also a tough out from behind the service line, and scored there regularly. Add to it that her attack touch is already at ten feet, and the sky’s the limit for Gabby. Her partner-in-crime, Bella Wynja (’23, 6-1, Heritage Christian), also has length for days and is terminal on her swing. I’d like to see a little more press from her when blocking, and with Corky Robertson as your coach, it’ll come. Time and reps will help a bunch for her future. Let’s not forget about Jessica Pickett Jessica Pickett 6'5" | MB Carmel | 2023 State IN (’23, 6-5, Carmel), who is a presence in the front row on arrival and can hit multiple angles in front of the setter with ease because of that size and length.
BOILER JUNIORS 16 GOLD
The champs from the 15/16 division, the middles got to not only defend at an elite level, but terminated regularly. Riley Resmer (’24, 6-1, Noblesville) had a presence to her that the rest of the division couldn’t handle on Sunday. Her length makes her appear taller than her 6-1 frame, and her abilities to hit both in front of and behind the setter make her marketable in either middle position. Jaycee Strawsma (’24, 5-11, Benton Central) is smart and strong, and uses her skills in other sports (basketball, track) to bring explosiveness to the volleyball court. For now, she’s a solid M2 option, but I can see her being a right side in her not-too-distant future.
CIRCLE CITY 15 PURPLE
This squad’s middles feel like polar opposites to me when you first see them line up. Once the whistle blows, take them lightly at your own risk. Reese Dunkle Reese Dunkle 6'3" | MB Center Grove | 2025 State #31 Nation IN (’25, 6-2, Center Grove) has all kinds of length and transitions faster than any other middle at this age. She’s up before the defending middle can even think about blocking. I like that she also uses that long stride to make it easier to defend pin to pin. She’s in on a ton more blocks than your average middle, at any age. Her opposite, Aubrey Runyon Aubrey Runyon 5'9" | MB Franklin Community | 2025 State IN (’25, 5-9, Franklin Community), has a springy nature to her, and I’ve now seen her succeed in multiple positions within the last few months. She’s no nonsense, lead by example and can do anything an M2 can do. I’ve yet to see her attack off of one foot, but she’s not even needed to, since she’s so explosive in front of the setter.
REV 17-1 RAPTORS
JaNyah Henderson JaNyah Henderson 5'11" | MB Cy Ranch | 2023 TX (’23, 5-11, Fishers) is a solid and smart middle that has M1 written all over her. Her ability to go quickly behind the setter will be key to this squad succeeding this spring. It is important to note that her high school setter, Margo Hernandez, is a recent addition to this squad, and their connection was already obvious on Sunday; their second-place finish is proof of that. At the other middle position was Elizabeth Phillips (’23, 6-1, Brebeuf) already has a state title on her mantle, and projects to be an M2 at the next level. Her blocking is easily her best skill, and her attacking is high and hard. Once she gets more reps with her setter, watch out.