Class 5 – Top Returning 2026 Middles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zella Gosnell – 6'0" – Springfield Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top returning middles finished the season with 233 kills. Zella will have another big season for Central. She's fast in the middle, commands the ball, and has a significant presence in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220349' first='Teagan' last='Pocius'] – 6'0” – Marquette</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teagan is the Class 5's top returning blocker for the 2026 class, with 91 total blocks and 184 kills. Teagan improvement is eye-catching. A versatile middle with excellent penetration on the block closes to the pins quickly. She will be one of the top middles in the Saint Louis Metro area this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222074' first='Parker' last='Kimball'] – 6'2" – Park Hill</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parker's wingspan allows her to set up excellent blocking, allowing her defenders to fill the gaps. She has a good swing and moves quickly from blocking to hitting. She will have a monster season at Park Hill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496502' first='Rhys' last='Zinn'] – 5'11" – Lee's Summit North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She has quick middle transitions from blocking to attacking and has some big bounces—a strong arm built for volleyball. Rhys finished the year with 149 kills and 72 in her first season playing varsity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='357574' first='Mahleah' last='Lambright'] – 6'0" – Oak Park</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She's a raw middle with a massive upside to her game. She is long and active, with nice power in her swing. Mahleah's improvement over the summer will benefit her team as she starts to find her way in the game – going to be a tough one to stop in the Kansas City Northland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->