Top 250 Expo Kentucky: Middle & Right Hitters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is writing about athletes I have never seen before. I love covering a new region because every amazing athlete I get to see is like a gift. I do not know what they are capable of and then they do something amazing and it is such a pleasure to watch them grow and develop. With that said, let's take a look at the middle and right-side hitters from the Top 250 Expo in Kentucky this past weekend. I tried and I honestly could not pick a favorite athlete of this bunch. They all have so much talent and skill it would be impossible to determine my favorite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lyla Bottom</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bottom is a 5'10" middle hitter from Highlands High School's junior class. Bottom has a great platform and can receive it and give it right to the setter. She moves the ball well and where it is planned to go with ease and determination. She plays a nice back row. She also hits very well at the net. She can go quick and hard or slide and hit cross-court. She is a hard hitter with great power when she wants to use it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":255808,"width":"164px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/47-Maya-Kondik-e1670163184861.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-255808" style="width:164px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='210638' first='Maya' last='Kondik'], 2025.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='210638' first='Maya' last='Kondik']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kondik is a 6' middle hitter from the junior class at Villa Madonna Academy. Kondik is a quick hitter and moves with such speed that it is hard to keep track of where she is on the court or where she is hitting. She can make something good out of a bad play, or an out-of-system ball. She adjusts very quickly and very well to changes on the court like a different setter or a different blocker on the other side of the net. Her versatility and flexibility are two of her best assets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":270908,"width":"158px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/65-Grace-Rude.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-270908" style="width:158px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261335' first='Grace' last='Rude'], 2025.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261335' first='Grace' last='Rude']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rude is a 6'1" right-side hitter from the junior class at Bishop Fenwick High School in Ohio. Rude had several ace serves while running through her paces at the expo this past weekend. They looked to be very smart and sharply hit serves that delivered the ace she deserved. Rude is big and strong and just a smart player all around. She looked good wherever she was on the court and could play her own back row potentially. She is best tight at the net with a quick set coming at her. She can hit any corner, boundary, or anywhere there is space on an opponent's court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='487102' first='Naomi' last='Cole']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cole is a 6'1" middle hitter from West Liberty-Salem High School's sophomore class in Ohio. Cole has a beautiful platform and a nice serving ability. She is big and powerful which makes her a huge blocker and a massive hitter anywhere at the net. She can hit out of the back row as well as the front and is quite impressive to watch play. She has a ton of energy on display as she goes through the paces set before her at the expo. She smiles and cheers on other athletes at the expo showing a good personality to join her other considerable skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='227625' first='Claire' last='King']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>King is a 5'11" middle hitter from Logan Elm High School's sophomore class located in Ohio. King is a great blocker. She has great timing and good focus which allows her to block or hit with precision. She is a smart athlete and uses her very strong hands while blocking to win a joust at the net. She is very fast in her approach and has a sharp angle to her attacks which usually results in a kill for her. She is an impressive athlete to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='443382' first='Ava' last='Liening']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liening is a 6'3" middle hitter from Ballard High School's sophomore class. Liening looks like a giant at the net and can hit anywhere along it. She does well with all kinds of sets and adjusts well to a new setter each time one rotates into the lineup. She is big, strong, and powerful. She is a smart athlete and knows when to hit and when to tip. She can hit a down ball with ease and knows what is going on across the net to beat the block. She is not a showy athlete it is just business on the court. She uses all of her energy to hit the ball as hard as she can every time to the floor. She also handles out-of-system balls well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->