MONSTER BLOCKers at Central Zone

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And we're off to the races! The 2023 club season is well underway and what better way to close out January than the Central Zone Invitational in Indianapolis?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was getting rowdy in the Indianapolis Convention Center. You had the biggest of hitters and the most monstrous of blocks up. These blockers were some of the best in the gym, no other way to get around it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at at these beasts at the net, the monster blockers of Central Zone!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Niyah Lester - Rock City</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rock City showed up and showed out this weekend! A large reason for this comes from their action out of the middle. Niyah Lester caught my attention real quick early on Saturday and onto Sunday. Lester is a huge presence on the block and runs some great routes on offense!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":306534,"width":239,"height":159,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/01/DSC09222.jpg?w=1024" alt="Johanna Tillman " class="wp-image-306534" width="239" height="159" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Johanna Tillman </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Ava Kanj - Mavericks</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ava Kanj knows how to make quick impression. Mavericks likes to establish her presence quick and never let up. And why would you? On the attacking front, she knows how to the ball down. Blocking? Good luck getting through.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Johanna Tillman - Michigan Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Need to put the ball away? Find Johanna Tillman! First tournament out with Michigan Elite and I have a strong feeling Tillman is going to be making an impact all throughout this club season! Her fast-twitch nature is a perfect compliment to this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Alayna Christner - Boiler Jr</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lefty in the middle? Hey, it works and it's a lot of fun to watch! Alayna Christner is doing something not many could pull off and it proved very hard to defend! Christner has a great eye on the block and runs a lot of fun routes on offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Jordyn Hughes - Dead Frog</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Someone get a VERT band on this girl, because she's flying out of the gym! Jordyn Hughes is a dynamo in the middle. With her crazy vertical and long wingspan, Hughes was making some nasty plays this weekend. On the block, attacking, it was autiomatic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Addison Makun - KIVA</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's not much getting past this block and not a whole lot you can do when Addison Makun brings the hammer down. She's a monster at the net. I got to catch Makun in a really intense match against UNION to open championship Sunday and she was a difference maker for sure! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Elise Hart - KIVA</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":196111,"width":229,"height":152,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/05/IMG_8670.jpg?w=1024" alt="Tara Greenberry" class="wp-image-196111" width="229" height="152" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tara Greenberry</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's no break off from some serious pressure in the middle when going against a KIVA team. Makun checks out, Elise Hart checks in. Uh-oh! Hart is great off of two feet in front of the setter and can take up great space on the block. She was another game-changer late in the UNION match as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Tara Greenberry - HPSTL</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tara Greenberry is quite simply the complete package for a middle. An elite level blocker and a middle with all the shots in her artillery. Greenberry can run just about any route with great ball placement around the court. Her slide attack was virtually untouched all weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Olivia Grenadier - Legacy</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yet another impressive outing for this blocker from the Legacy cannon. Olivia Grenadier continues to be a force at the net. Her connection with her setter is so good, no matter where she is, it's almost always a kill!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Shelby Ignash - Michigan Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":264811,"width":216,"height":173,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/65-Lauren-Johnson.jpg?w=1024" alt=" Lauren Johnson" class="wp-image-264811" width="216" height="173" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> Lauren Johnson</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In her debut in the open division this weekend, Shelby Ignash showed that can do more than hang with the big dogs. Her signature slide was on full display and scoring at a high rate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Lauren Johnson - Michigan Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lauren Johnson is no stranger to the open division field, but in her debut with Michigan Elite, she was impressive. Giving this squad some much needed blocking prowess, Johnson had her hands on quite a few balls throughout the weekend, terminating on a good chunk of those touches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->