Five Middles To Watch In The Class Of ’25

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moving right along with your positional breakdowns of the updated class of '25, we have all of the bigs to talk about that are still available to sign somewhere after high school. Here they are, in no particular order, listing their clubs, high schools, sizes and what makes them special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='172316' first='Ava' last='Gutt'], 5-11, Hamilton Southeastern, Boiler Juniors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although Ava is listed as a pin attacker for her club team (17 Gold), I'm going to list her here as a middle, as I have seen the majority of her playing in the middle. Long and lean, Ava is athletic enough to defend from pin to pin as a middle, and smart enough to put balls away from anywhere. She's best suited in the middle as an M2, as her two-footed attack is high, aggressive, and has scored her the most points for her squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='152945' first='Harper' last='Holden'], 6-0, Greenfield-Central, Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although placed on the 17-2 this season at Academy, her all-around volleyball acuity is what has always caught my eye with Harper. She's big, smart and long-armed, making defending easy for her. She can also hit any shot in the book off of two feet, and depending on the system, can sprinkle in a little higher tempo balls on the pins. What I like about her the most is that she's just a good, fun-loving and coachable kid. Not too many of those around the courts in Indiana these days, especially in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='184909' first='Kaitlyn' last='Oakley'], 5-11, North Posey, Metro</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From WAY down south comes Kaitlyn, who attends a school not necessarily known for their volleyball. I like her athleticism the most, seeing her put balls away in front of and behind the setter. Her springy and quick transition makes her an ideal M2, but could also play right side in a pinch, since her length is a major advantage. Defensively, she penetrates with discipline on the block, and can take up space despite her narrow frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='192113' first='Ava' last='Tindall'], 6-0, Homestead, [program_tooltip program_id='430155' first='Team' last='Pineapple']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From one end of the state to the other, Ava is from the Fort Wayne area. One of the physically stronger middles in this class, she's more apt to do the dirty work of slowing down attackers and being ready to attack on every play. I like her high arm swing and her willingness to do the unsung parts of the game, all while never taking a play off. Work ethic and volleyball acuity are her calling cards, which transitions nicely to the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='173243' first='Ellen' last='Zapp'], 6-0, Center Grove, Circle City</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're looking for a strong and fast middle that can put balls away off of one foot as well as two, Ellen is your middle. Her broad shoulders and conditioning are obvious, and her motor is relentless. I've quite literally watched her grow up from "yeah, she's ok" to one of the elite middles in this class. What helps is that work ethic of hers. She doesn't quit on a play, ever, which is a nice trait to have when looking for a school at the next level. That work ethic has turned her into a kid that can play anywhere in the front row. She can be a three-rotation outside, hammering away at split blocks. She can play in the middle, which she's already done at a high level. She can be a three-rotation right side and block opposing outsides with ease. I've seen her do all three, and she can do all of it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->