Middles on the March at the Illinois Top 250 Expo

<p>Middles are always vital to the success of any team. They need to be great both offensively and defensively. Each of the middles in this article is at a highly developmental age and will grow exponentially, both emotionally and physically in the next year, so let's look at each of them and see what is great about them now.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/36-Annabelle-Bischoff-crop-2936x1928-1735453748.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-737208" style="width:209px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='530666' first='Annabelle' last='Bischoff'], middle blocker from Bloomington HS, class of 2027.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='530666' first='Annabelle' last='Bischoff']</h2>   <p>Bischoff is a 6'1" middle blocker from the sophomore class at Bloomington High School. Bischoff is a strong and powerful athlete. She puts up a brick wall and stops her opponents in their tracks. She is athletic and deals well with out-of-system balls. She keeps control of the court and will smash any overpass sent in her direction.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/45-Mia-Fitzpatrick-crop-1968x1292-1735453985.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-737210" style="width:235px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='736616' first='Mia' last='Fitzpatrick'], a middle blocker from New Trier HS, class of 2027.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='736616' first='Mia' last='Fitzpatrick']</h2>   <p>Fitzpatrick is a 6' middle blocker from the sophomore class at New Trier High School. Fitzpatrick is maybe the best blocker on this list. She has hands of stone and breaking through them is nearly impossible. She has a great vertical, excellent timing, and a lot of determination. She was patient and when finally set blasted one to the floor like a freight train. She is a hard-hitting, solid blocking, beast of a middle blocker.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/60-Kristina-Jordan-crop-2201x1445-1735454182.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-737212" style="width:220px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kristina Jordan, middle hitter from Bishop Noll Institute, class of 2027.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kristina Jordan</h2>   <p>Jordan is a 5'7" sophomore middle hitter from Bishop Noll Institute. Jordan has great hands and if she gets a touch she can send the ball to the corners and beat your defenders. She moves fast and can dig well at the net. She has a good vertical and can get up to block a hitter at the net.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/61-Teagan-Kniep-crop-2627x1725-1735454283.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-737213" style="width:233px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Teagan Kniep, middle hitter from East Troy High School, class of 2027.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Teagan Kniep</h2>   <p>Kniep is a 5'10" middle hitter from East Troy High School's sophomore class in Wisconsin. Most of the time I was able to observe Kniep, she was playing outside and looked great doing it. She has a great vertical, a strong swing, and an absolute wall of a block. She kept them moving on the opposite side of the net trying to beat her when she was up blocking but she was fast and moved well getting her hands up just when she needed to. She is a superior athlete with a high volleyball IQ.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/77-Angelina-Schliessmann-crop-2180x1432-1735454399.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-737215" style="width:199px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Angelina Schliessmann, middle blocker from Joliet West HS, class of 2027.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Angelina Schliessmann</h2>   <p>Schliessmann is a 6' middle blocker from the sophomore class at Joliet West High School. Schliessmann has great vertical and strong hands. She is a great blocker and hitter at the net. She can deal with the loose ball coming toward her side of the net efficiently by just slamming it to the ground on her opponent's side for a kill. She has good serves and moves her block around making it hard to hit offensively against her. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/IMG_5794.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-735445" style="width:237px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='530804' first='Haley' last='Swim'], middle blocker from Kaneland High School, class of 2027.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='530804' first='Haley' last='Swim']</h2>   <p>Swim is a 5'11" sophomore middle blocker from Kaneland High School. She has a great platform and quick hands. She can pass it to the setter every time she receives the ball. She is impactful on the court due to her all-around skills. She looks fantastic blocking and hitting in the front row. She is a talented athlete with huge potential for the next level.</p>

Middles are always vital to the success of any team. They need to be great both offensively and defensively. Each of the middles in this article is at a highly developmental age and will grow exponentially, both emotionally and physically in the next year, so let's look at each of them and see what is great about them now.