Out of Preseason and into Regular Season: '24 Mighty Middles

Middles set the tone when it comes to blocking, no doubt. They always have a huge role in making a long rally successful for their teams with each move they make, but a middle blocker who can change the pace of the game, win momentum plays, and make their presence known all within the three rotations they are in, are what brings a middle to the top. In the Chicagoland area we have many great middle blockers, but here are the top seven middle blockers who raise that even bar higher:   [player_tooltip player_id='311939' first='Ellery' last='Rees'] (MB) 6'3"- Mother McAuley   Ellery took some big strides since the beginning of the 2022 club season and has not looked back. Her long stature makes her swings almost impossible to defend, especially with her great court awareness of the opposing blockers and defenders, but her vision doesn't stop there. Her vision expands more than just in her hitting, but also as a blocker which is a clear representation of her growing volleyball IQ. She is always willing to learn and take in feedback to help grow her game, so this high school season will be exciting to watch as we can anticipate her being one of the top middles in her conference.   [player_tooltip player_id='311962' first='Layla' last='Collins'] (MB) 6'0"- Plainfield Central High School   Talk about a middle who can do it all. You can find her on either pin taking cracks at the ball and in the middle running temp sets, beating many of the blocks she is up against. Her speed and agility are part of what helps her win when she is up against a big block, but more impressively, her approach touch of 10'3" is what ultimately helps her ball find the floor and beat the defense. As the first line of defense, her blocking puts up a wall no matter where she finds herself in the front row. There is no doubt in the space she is going to take away from the hitters she is up against and limiting their scoring options.   [player_tooltip player_id='135955' first='Gabrielle' last='Williams'] (MB) 6'0"- Saint Ignatius College Prep   Gabby excels in every aspect of her position as a middle and is always working hard to do her job for her teammates. She is never one to give up in a rally because she wants every opportunity she gets to make a difference. Whether it's closing long distances pin-to-pin or working hard in transition, she will be an option no matter what and refuses to let her team down. When she gets the ball, she knows exactly what to do with it and has a great understanding of keeping the ball in play until she gets the opportunity to bury it for a momentum-changing kill.   [player_tooltip player_id='135994' first='Ruth' last='Ziegler'] (MB) 6'3"- Warren Township High School   Good luck getting by Ruth's block if you ever find yourself matched up against her. Her block cannot be missed and her strength makes it hard for any hitter to swing through her. Even more impressive, is her controlled and deliberate block finish into the court when she knows she is closing a long distance and will be late, making her block elite. Offensively she has great control of her wrist and hand contact which helps her throw off the defenders she is swinging against and find holes in anyone's defense.   Gracen Haska (MB) 6'1"- Fenton   Haska is the definition of what it means to be an athlete and that is entirely backed up by her growth in her first club season that she just finished in Indy at GJNCs. As a dual sport athlete in high school playing both basketball and volleyball, she knows what it means to work hard and be a team player. She quickly took on the middle blocking role this last club season and was a high-producing hitter at each tournament she and her team competed in. She is the kind of hard worker that sets the tone for her teammates around her and that work ethic is contagious into leading a team to success.   [player_tooltip player_id='135951' first='Keira' last='Ohse'] (MB) 6'1"- Mother McAuley   Keira hits a heavy ball that can sneak between blocks, especially with her aggressive transition in rallies making herself an option for a tempo set and swing. She has competed at a high level in both clubs and now going into her high school season at McAuley, so she is not the kind of athlete that will shy away from a challenge. Her upper body strength makes her block a strong aspect of her game and is always on the move to slow down the ball for her defenders behind her. With her and Ellery being a part of the Mother McAuley legacy, you aren't going to want to miss their matches this season and the rest of their career there.   [player_tooltip player_id='311936' first='Sophia' last='Zanca'] (MB) 6'2"- Naperville Central High School   Sophia is not afraid to show off her speed and power as a hitter. She is more than comfortable running a slide on a freeball play, but in transition is more than willing to audible to a slide to deliberately spread the opposing blockers for her and the pin hitter in the front row with her. Her range in offensive plays is great as her speed and 10'2" approach touch brings her offensive production to the next level. Her athleticism and explosiveness help her cover great lengths along the net making her a blocker that can hold with the middle, then work to close a long distance to either pin.

Middles set the tone when it comes to blocking, no doubt. They always have a huge role in making a long rally successful for their teams with each move they make, but a middle blocker who can change the pace of the game, win momentum plays, and make their presence known all within the three rotations they are in, are what brings a middle to the top. In the Chicagoland area we have many great middle blockers, but here are the top seven middle blockers who raise that even bar higher: