CEVA Regionals Recap: Standout 2026 Middles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last weekend was the culminating tournament for the CEVA season, and PrepDig was lucky enough to be in attendance! We had a chance to catch some stellar volleyball and took note of players that impressed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While it was not possible to watch every team and athlete, we were able to see a ton of athletes in action, placing priority on teams playing in Open and in the top 10 of the 16U division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are the standout middles from the class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["268757"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eWe got to see Bitzer in action, hitting out of the middle for Rise 17 Flagship. Bitzer was an offensive weapon, using her hammer of an arm out of the middle to bury the ball. She is also very quick and powerful off the slide. And Bitzer showcased good court vision, finding open court to score.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["268756"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAbundiz was seen playing from the middle for NPJ Salem 16-2 Elite, the 2024 Regional Champions in the 16s Division. Abundiz puts up a massive block and is always available in transition, both of which came in clutch in the tournament finals. From the baseline, she brings an aggressive standing float serve.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["267165"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eSchaaf, a middle for Athena 16-1 Gold, was impressive to watch at Regionals. Standing at 6'3”, Schaaf puts up a huge block, which proved tough to hit against at the tournament. Schaaf also has a whip of an arm, which she used well to put the ball away quickly and frequently. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["268724"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eWe watched Irish play out of the middle for OJVA 16-1. Irish is an athletic middle with a solid vertical. Using her strong court vision and quick footwork, Irish was a major offensive and defensive contributor for her team at Regionals, finding holes on the court to score.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Lillimae Brumble","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Crook County ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='483806' first='Central' last='Oregon Volleyball Club']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eBrumble hit from the middle for COVC 18-1, the 2024 Regional Champions in the 18s Division. Brumble is incredibly athletic with hops, which helps her get up when blocking and attacking. She is also a dynamic attacker and can swing from the outside well. Brumble has a powerful slide attack, too. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["268758"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eKaopuiki-Delaney was a major offensive contributor for Rose City 16-1 at Regionals. She is a versatile attacker, able to successfully hit from the pins in some of her team's serve receive formations. Kaopuiki-Delaney also puts up a good block, and she is a natural leader on the court. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["267159"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Akpan attacks out of the middle for Webfoot 18-1. Akpan is so athletic, and at Regionals she showcased her impressive vertical and super quick footwork in transition. Akpan is so fast that she frequently beats the block ahead of her and uses her powerful swing to put the ball down.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Piper Rudd","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"Aspire NW","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eRudd, a middle for Aspire NW 17-1, was a weapon for her team. Rudd is an aggressive and athletic middle blocker. Rudd presses over the net well on her block, and she does a nice job of finding the corners when attacking. And from the baseline, Rudd brings a tough jump float serve. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["403351"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eWe saw Pedersen in action from the middle for NPJ Salem 16-1 National. Pedersen is a formidable, dominant force, using her quick hammer of an arm to bury the ball. Pedersen is skilled at turning the ball into either corner to score. She is also tough and effective from the pins. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"Riley Seymer","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"Seton Catholic","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"Aspire NW","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eSeymer hit out of the middle for Aspire NW 16-1 at Regionals. Standing at 6'1”, Seymer is huge at the net and puts up a big block. Seymer is also great at tracking the ball along the net and reads opposing attackers well. When attacking, Seymer hits the ball straight down.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["290227"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eStephen, the other middle for NPJ Salem 16-1 National, is commanding from the middle. Stephen is super quick, able to get out to the pins efficiently and put up a solid block. She also attacks off the slide well, using her fast footwork and hammer of an arm to put the ball away. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":11,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66419d5e0ba4e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>—</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We can support these amazing athletes by sharing articles with family, friends, fans, and coaches. To do this, subscribe to our site and share across your social media platforms.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay informed by following Prep Dig on its various social media platforms. Follow Prep Dig PNW on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdig_pnw/">@prepdigpnw</a>) for updates on Oregon and Washington athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sometimes, unintentional errors happen. 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