2025 Middles Trying To Break Out Of The Pack

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2025 is offering a lot of talent at the middle hitter position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This class has a lot of middles with the size, speed and power to reach the next level and become dominant players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's 10 that have the potential to be in an elite group with some of the already great middles in this class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='189713' first='Addison' last='Ashley'], Saline/L2</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashley has been having some good success this club season finishing from the middle and the right side. She's playing with a lot of savvy, mixing up ways to put points away. She's shown the ability to score over the top of blockers, off blockers and through blockers. Ashley mixing up her attacks well and recognizes the floor well before making an attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156285' first='Tina' last='Barnekova'], Rochester Adams/Michigan Elite</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":264791,"width":"229px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/44-Tina-Barnekova.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-264791" style="width:229px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156285' first='Tina' last='Barnekova']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barnekova has been playing on the outside this club season and she's developing well there if that's an option she wants to pursue. She's got the quickness and endurance to handle the workload, but her play as a middle was certainly at a high level. Barnekova brings a lot of competitive intensity to the floor and battles hard at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227580' first='Alyssa' last='Carson'], Buchanan/Krush</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson has been able to play middle and outside throughout her playing days. The 6'2” Carson probably isn't getting as much attention as she deserves being in Division 3. She's got the skillset to play at the highest levels. Carson really climbs the ladder and plays well above the net. She's worked hard to develop her defensive game to compliment her ability to finish anywhere along the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261152' first='Grace' last='Cooney'], Hartland/L2</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":264794,"width":"233px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/47-Grace-Cooney.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-264794" style="width:233px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261152' first='Grace' last='Cooney']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>L2 has a real diamond on its hands in Cooney. An Oakland commit, the 6'1” Cooney has thunderous power in the middle. She comes down hard over the top of the ball, consistently putting down points that opponents have no chance to dig up. She's got a lot of spring in her step as well, allowing her to be a big blocking force.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288949' first='Isabelle' last='Earley'], Novi/Legacy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earley feels like a breakout candidate for the next 12 months. She's got a lot of potential that she is working to tap into. You can see he perform at an elite level at times. When connecting with her setters, she looks like a spring that gets uncorked, its explosive and fast. Earley can put a lot of force into her attacks. As she continues to get more confidence and play instinctively, she's going to really shine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156309' first='Lauren' last='Johnson'], South Lyon East/Legacy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson likes to be a momentum setter. She brings a lot of powerful play to the court. He blocks are emphatic and her swings are violent. When she connects with the ball, Johnson wants everyone to know it. It's hard for many to match the 6'2” middle's power, but what we have seen this club season is she's consistently finishing even when not getting her best swings. She's still got a lot of pop at 80% with sharp attack angles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231189' first='Josie' last='Noble'], Caledonia/MVA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'2” Noble is looking really strong this club season with Rise Academy 71. Her power and timing look effortless, but where she's shown a lot of growth is her ability to adapt and recognize in mid-air. Noble is scoring a lot of offspeed shots. She's putting together a complete offensive attack to compliment her endless athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224599' first='Avery' last='Powers'], Coopersville</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coopersville has been no stranger to elite middles in its program. Powers is fitting in quite nicely there. She's gotten a lot of opportunities to shine throughout her prep career already and it shows in her confidence on the floor, as well as the ease in which the game seems to come to her. Powers can take on a big workload and the 6-footer comes through her fast arm speed and lightness on her feet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='514803' first='Ella' last=''] Taatjes, East Grand Rapids/MVA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taatjes played the outside for EGR this past fall, as that is where they needed her. She certainly has the athleticism and explosiveness to do it. She can finish from either pin and has the quickness to make up a lot of ground on out-of-system balls. When able to go to her primary position of middle, Taatjes can do it all and has the footwork to play in an up-tempo offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='487143' first='Emma' last='Underwood'], Kalamazoo Christian/FaR Out</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off Kalamazoo Christian's state championship run in the fall, Underwood is trying to take her game to another level this club season in preparation to have a bigger role in the fall. Underwood hit over .500 during the prep season and she's found a niche for her swing. She's got a shorter and more compact swing than other middles, but it's working for her as she develops a quicker pace of play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->