New Discoveries from the 2022 Club Season: Middle Blockers
We won’t be running out of new talents to talk about anytime soon. In case you missed it, we’ve just kicked off a new series on some of my favorite new discoveries from the 2022 club season. This collection of…
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Continue ReadingWe won’t be running out of new talents to talk about anytime soon.
In case you missed it, we’ve just kicked off a new series on some of my favorite new discoveries from the 2022 club season. This collection of features is dedicated to those athletes who made a big first impression and instantly put themselves on my scouting radar. Finding rising stars and hidden gems is at the very core of my agenda when covering events, so this series will help divulge the long array of notes that I’ve gathered so far this year.
After looking at pin hitters yesterday, it’s time to give the middle blockers their due.
Chloe Cline – 6’1 MB – Iowa Rockets 17R – Class of 2023
It was so exciting to document the rise of Iowa Rockets 17R at the Show Me Qualifier, and Cline spearheaded a lot of that success. She’s an agile middle blocker who can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, allowing her to close any block from pin to pin. Watch out for this Evansville commit and she continues to showcase Iowa’s strength at the middle blocker spot.
Aisha Aiono – 6’2 MB – MAVS KC 17-1 – Class of 2023
The energy that Aiono brings to MAVS is absolutely infectious. It’s hard not to notice the way she sparks her team with massive solo blocks or colossal cutback shots in front of the setter. I had already seen a lot from other players in the KC 17-1 lineup heading into the season, but Aiono is a talent that really showed a new gear this year and took me by surprise.
Julia Headley – 6’2 MB/RS – KC Power 16-1 – Class of 2024
Let’s stay in the KC area to talk about another middle blocker that has risen up the ranks in 2022. Headley caught my attention with her up-tempo slides out on the right pin. She gets out there so fast and doesn’t leave a lot of time for opposing blockers to get aligned against her. Of course, Headley is just as effective off of two feet and has put her spectacular range to good use with KC Power.
Ayden Ames – 6’4 MB/RS – TAV 16 Black – Class of 2024
Ames is fitting in just fine with the Texas crowd. TAV 16 Black finds every way possible to get this middle blocker the ball, including lining her up on either pin. When you have an attacker like Ames in the frontcourt, anything goes. I’m excited to see her versatility shine once again when we approach the big stage in Indianapolis.
Anna Bjork – 6’3 MB – MKE Sting 16 Gold – Class of 2024
There have been a lot of eyes on Bjork and her MKE Sting team recently, and I’m obviously included in that group. This Oconomowoc middle has had no shortage of impressive matches this year, as Bjork can simply hit over an opposing block when she’s teed up in the A gap. In a frontcourt full of stars, don’t lose sight of what Bjork brings every time she takes the court.
Anna Adcock – 6’1 MB – OT 16 T Jason – Class of 2024
Adcock and OT 16 T Jason had their big breakout weekend at Triple Crown NIT back in February, and I’ve been following this Florida squad ever since. If you’re looking for a 2024 middle blocker who can confidently swing in any gap along the net, Adcock is a great choice. She will always find a way to be a target in OTVA’s transition offense, and her kill production has flourished as a result.
Tara Greenberry – 6’3 MB – HPSTL 15 Royal – Class of 2025
It’s only proper that the Show Me Qualifier produced so many standouts from the Show Me State. Greenberry is a can’t-miss middle blocker from the St. Louis area who brings unmatched physicality in 15s competition. HPSTL finds a way to dish the ball to Greenberry on nearly every good pass and can also lean on this middle for some shutdown blocking.
Keira Schmidt – 6’5 MB – Northern Lights 15-1 – Class of 2025
Northern Lights 15-1 has given us a vast collection of memorable moments this year, and Schmidt has had a hand in a lot of them. When she’s in rhythm, she can hit angles that you don’t often see in the 15s division. Schmidt is undoubtedly the centerpiece of an intimidating Lights frontcourt that should have no problem standing out once again at Nationals.
Maya Witherspoon – 6’0 MB/OH – Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite – Class of 2025
There’s very little that Witherspoon hasn’t done for Rockwood Thunder in 2022. I first saw her bouncing ball as a middle blocker, but then I had to do a double-take as she took on a six-rotation outside hitter role in subsequent matches. Wherever Witherspoon fits in future lineups, I can promise you that she will continue to shine as one of Missouri’s top 2025 prospects.
Campbell Onell – 5’10 MB – FC Elite 15 Navy – Class of 2025
It’s natural to make comparisons when scouting players, but I don’t think I’ve seen a 15s player this year quite like Onell. Her patented attack pattern is the “front slide” in which she runs parallel to the net and swings off of one foot in front of the setter. Onell’s quickness makes this very difficult to defend, and she seized a moment in the spotlight at our Chi-Town Classic circuit event in February.