Top 250 Expo Middle Hitters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are the six athletes playing middle from the California Top 250 Expo in Gardena:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='480172' first='Grace' last='Kelley'] </strong>| 5'10" | 2026 | MB | West Ranch High School<br>There is joy and intensity when watching [player_tooltip player_id='480172' first='Grace' last='Kelley'] play. Without any noticeable signs, she appears to battle the natural state of fatigue and declining emotions that come with being intense. The output from that battle is a passion that shows. Additionally, whether individual skill work or gameplay, Kelley consistently demonstrates she is self aware. What stands out as a hitter is that she understands how to maximize a lower contact point to guide an attack toward the endline. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='470472' first='McKenzie' last='Shellman']</strong> | 6'0" | 2026 | MB | Citrus Valley High School <br>[player_tooltip player_id='470472' first='McKenzie' last='Shellman'] approaches hard and fast yet displays strength to stop momentum of her approach. The result of this hard stop in terms of space and time allow her to see the block well. She is not shy to use the block as a advantage to her for scoring a point. Sometimes that armswing goes as far to look like she is almost swinging up to the ceiling. It is impressive to see the awareness of when to swing down to the floor and when to swing at the block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elle Vandeweghe </strong>| 6'5" | 2026 | MB | Marymount High School<br>A communicative middle is one way to describe the intangibles of the game of Elle Vandeweghe. While she is looking left, looking right, looking middle, and reading the setter, her communication provides focus for her teammates blocking. She regularly makes solid contact with the ball which is also impressive. Specifically, the limited tenths of seconds the ball must travel a relative longer distance to her arm can create challenges for whole handed contact with the ball. Additionally, a tip to zone four is a strength of hers as a hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Olivia Hirsch</strong> | 5'11" | 2027 | MB | Palos Verdes High School<br>Fighting through when there seems to be no more is something that Olivia Hirsch shows glimpses of. She is knowledgeable of her own game. So, when she makes that extra effort it really gets her into a higher level of competitiveness. Specifically, when a set is just outside her reach, Hirsch will continue to hold her ground but also extend her body as much as possible to keep that volley going. She also uses her wrist well at the end of her attack sequence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295471' first='Ariel' last='Chime']</strong> | 6'5" | 2025 | MB | Eastlake High School<br>A leaper, [player_tooltip player_id='295471' first='Ariel' last='Chime'], is a player that can catch the immediate attention of most anyone in the gym. She puts in excellent effort and has very good range as a hitter. While her height provides a wide lens of court space to hit to, an offspeed tip just over the middle blocker is most impressive. This shot can waterfall just behind the opposing blocker landing about two to three feet from the net. She touches a height of the third white on the antenna.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Athena Cox</strong> | 6'3" | 2025 | MB | Academy of Our Lady of Peace<br>A timely approach is a signature of the game of Athena Cox. When a precisely placed ball is delivered, Cox is very difficult to stop for any defense. As she comes into the ball, she will unload plenty of power and force behind that ball. When blocking, she works hard and makes that effort worthwhile as she presses over the net right away after her arms get above the net. She touches a height of the second white on the antenna.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->