Monster Middles from the Chi-Town Classic

My first player spotlight article from the Chi-Town Classic will focus on middle blockers. There’s a good reason for it, too: we have plenty of talented middles to talk about. Of course, keep an eye out for content from Chris Fitzgerald and Rachel Kass as they deliver their own observations from the fun weekend in Chicago. I mentioned in yesterday’s first impressions feature that these two scouts will offer a lot of unique perspectives after watching many of these athletes for a long time already. So, with that in mind, time to take a glance at a few middle blockers who lit it up in Chi-Town!   Mazie Fleming - 6’3 MB - Shock 15 UA Storm Fleming is the kind of middle blocker that can take over a match. Shock found ways to set her on a lot of slow-quicks (or “slicks”) just so Fleming could get as many touches as possible. This middle’s length and physicality were challenges that many opposing teams had to overcome last weekend.   Kate Vanderhill - 6’0 MB - ImpactDT 15U Rey/Abbey Lefty middles are rare. Usually, a strong left-handed attacker like Vanderhill automatically gets plugged in on the right pin. In this case, though, Vanderhill thrives in the middle blocker spot despite being an unconventional hitter. Impact Dynamic cleverly schemes many of Vanderhill’s attacking routes behind the setter so the ball doesn’t have to travel across her body before she swings. It’s a tough thing to stop.   Lauren Grier - 5’10 MB - Impact 17-National Grier is aggressive in everything she does. That includes her serving, which is a skill that’s often overlooked for those playing the M1 position. When she’s in the frontcourt, Grier provides a spark through her big swings and stifling blocks. This is a player you want on your side.   [player_tooltip player_id="151738" first="Mattea" last="Kiepert"] - 5’11 MB - FC Elite 16 Navy FC Elite’s strength at the net can never go unnoticed. In the 17s bracket for 16 Navy, Kiepert regularly made big plays that helped lift her team to a division championship. This middle blocker is quick from pin to pin, presses over well, and transitions off the net to make herself available in the offense. Kiepert’s value is immeasurable.   <img class=" wp-image-166584 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/154-Campbell-Onell.jpg" alt="" width="482" height="321" />[player_tooltip player_id="178231" first="Campbell" last="Onell"] - 5’9 MB/RS - FC Elite 15 Navy Onell’s style is all her own. She was one of the fastest middles in the gym last weekend, and that’s not just in reference to her foot speed. Onell has an unbelievably quick arm that just cranks the ball out of nowhere. Her attacks behind the setter were perhaps most spectacular, and that bodes well for this middle’s future.   [player_tooltip player_id="91911" first="Meghan" last="Scholz"] - 6’3 MB - Wisconsin Ice 17 National Chris Fitzgerald luckily captured a consecutive string of dominant points from Scholz on Championship Sunday. The video says it all – she just makes things happen. The DePaul commit is incredibly long and physical and will clean up any set that’s given to her. Better yet, Scholz’s Wisconsin Ice teammates clearly feed off this middle blocker’s positive energy and unconditional support. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Forgot about this highlight reel of <a href="https://x.com/MeghanScholz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MeghanScholz</a> of <a href="https://x.com/WisconsinIce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WisconsinIce</a> going on a tear at the <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDChitownClassic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDChitownClassic</a> - the 2023 <a href="https://x.com/DePaulVball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DePaulVball</a> commit really showed how she can take over a match! Three plays in a row. <a href="https://t.co/tqP3NfWe7x">pic.x.com/tqP3NfWe7x</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1493408871637041153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Jacey Lambert - 5’10 MB - Top Flight 18 Elite Lambert is another experienced middle blocker who absolutely thrives off of one foot. The Harding (AR) commit had some of the most electric kills we saw in this event, and it’s a testament to her all-around skills and her will to score.