2023 Player Rankings: Top Middles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The hard-working middles in the class of 2023 get the first spot in our positional breakdowns. It's not always the most glamorous position on the court, but a huge monster block can swing the momentum of a match. Here are some of the top middles in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["253191"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the best middles out of the Vancouver area, the Prairie High School senior took home the MVP award in 3A Greater St. Helens league play this season. Conklin is a dynamic blocker with great timing, Prairie wisely fed her the ball and she delivered all season long.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2JNpueu0022u003ehttp://www.hudl.com/v/2JNpueu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["246349"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Crump is such a versatile player that she didn't appear at middle blocker for matches at a time for her Kennedy Catholic team. Ultimately, she found her perfect spot playing beach, and will compete for St. Mary's at the next level. She showed she could set, swing and play defense- out of the middle or anywhere else on the court.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["246267"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Downing has great size and has been operating in aanawesome middle rotation with junior u003cstrongu003eDanielle Brown u003c/strongu003eat Puyallup. She is versatile as well and has played well as an opposite in her career.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["251053"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Isabell u0022Bellau0022 Burney took home league MVP honors this season, and the Tumwater star has completed a steady rise into her high ranking. Her great penetration when blocking make her a difficult problem for opposing attackers. She will make the move North next season, competing collegiately for Alaska Anchorage in the GNAC.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["244057"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Johnson has a high contact point and stays aggressive offensively. She established a great rapport with her setter, [player_tooltip player_id='249351' first='Brielle' last='Wilson'], this season, easing Wilson's transition into a full-time role in Mead's 5-1 offense. She is solid running the slide, moves pin to pin easily, and has not maxed out her physicality yet. Johnson has a high ceiling at the next level.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://youtu.be/o2R5J0xqqnsu0022u003ehttps://youtu.be/o2R5J0xqqnsu003c/au003ernrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["244051"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"An explosive attacker who can punish the ball from the middle or either pin, Westby will compete for Central Washington next season. Ridgeline moved her round at times this season to take advantage of favorable matchups, and Westby was able to pass and play defense at a high level. She moves the ball around finding seams when swinging from the middle, turning the ball or driving it a hard angle to avoid the block.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-volleyball-recruiting/washington/liberty-lake/ridgeline-high-school1/corinne-westbyu0022u003ehttps://www.ncsasports.org/womens-volleyball-recruiting/washington/liberty-lake/ridgeline-high-school1/corinne-westbyu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["246277"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"An excellent athlete who transitions hard, Tri is excellent at reading the flow of an opposing offense. She trusts her eyes and makes a quick move to get her block into position and shut down hitters. She is well trained and fundamentally sound, she arrives for Western Washington next season along with 2023 middle u003cstrongu003eDanikah Johnsonu003c/strongu003e.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["225387"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"A tough, explosive winner who helped Lakeside to the state 3A Championship this season. A difference maker on offense and defense, she has a big arm and the length defensively to roof hitters pin to pin. Lakeside utilized her from the right side at times, and she was accurate while blasting away from the pin.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["97228"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Hoshok is quick- quick off her feet and quick with her attack. It's the arm that's a big difference maker, it's sudden and creates velocity that is tough for opponents to handle. Most importantly, she leads a tall and talented frontline at Lake Stevens in total blocks. She is headed to Charleston, SC to compete for The Citadel next season.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-638d8efc5e886"} /-->