Five Middles In The Class Of ’26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This summer, a ton of athletes from around the country can and will verbally commit to their future volleyball homes. Here are five middles from five different clubs that will probably do the same just as their junior years get started.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='210191' first='Reese' last='Resmer'], 6-0, Noblesville, Boiler Juniors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Already a major part of the top 16s team in the state, Reese and her band of volley sisters have already laid waste to all of their competition this spring. Qualifying multiple times for GJNCs in Vegas this summer, Reese is a fast and athletic M1 that transitions much faster than she looks. She also has long arms for days, closing blocks and defending from pin to pin better than some bigger than she.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='512366' first='Elli' last='Strecker'], 6-4, Zionsville, Team Indiana</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By far the biggest and most physical middle in this class, Elli has grown into a terminating force in the middle. Adept at either middle position, Miss Strecker also attacks well north of ten feet, making some blocks obsolete. I also like her transitioning speed and her ability to defend from pin to pin quickly. Most middles this size in Indiana don't have this speed, while Elli is getting faster and more athletic by the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='355575' first='Avery' last='Lewis'], 6-0, Cathedral, Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A middle in high school and a pin attacker in club, Avery is a springy athlete with a whip for an arm. Already acclimated to a faster-than-average offense, Miss Lewis uses speed and athleticism to beat most blocks, while adding her middle transition skills to out jump most pins she goes against.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='228833' first='Addi' last='Shippy'], 5-10, Carroll, [program_tooltip program_id='430155' first='Team' last='Pineapple']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More of an M2 because of her size, Miss Shippy is another fast and athletic middle that might transition to a pin in her later years leading into college. Coachable, quick and reliable, Addi is more than capable of playing higher level ball at any front row position. I like her natural instincts to be aggressive on overpasses in the middle as well as her willingness to do the unnoticed dirty work middles have to do to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='301135' first='Karen' last='Dutro'], 6-1, Columbus North, Rev</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fiery and fast, Karen has length and speed for days. Her motor is 100% all the time, without fail, on every point. Ready to swing and always around the ball, Miss Dutro is THE best attacker for the Bulldogs in the fall and is slowly becoming the best middle in this class south of I-70.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->