Top Ten Uncommitted Middles from Class of 2025 and 2026

I hope to be at the Grand Prix volleyball tournament in Richmond, Virginia this weekend. Many of the top younger teams are playing in Qualifiers in Kansas City (Show Me) or Northeast. Over 70 teams from the DMV area are competing in the Northeast Qualifier in the 14-16 age divisions. That impacts the quality of teams playing in the Grand Prix, especially at the younger ages.   The results for the Qualifier tournaments and the Gran Prix will be posted next week. Until then, we will take a look at a ten middles from the class of 2025 and 2026 who have yet to commit. Many of these players have the versatility and the flexibility to also hit right side.   Class of 2025    Riley played mostly right side for her high school team, getting them to the semi-finals of the Class 6 Virginia state championship. She finished second on the team in kills and blocks.   Riley brings an approach jump that touches 10 feet. While she ranks at number seven for the middle blockers in the class of 2025 she now sits as the highest ranked middle that has yet to commit. She plays for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''], which will compete in the 18U National Championships in Louisville Kentucky this weekend. They will also play in the National Division at the USAV Junior Nationals in Utah.   Good height. Good jump. Runs the middle well.    [player_tooltip player_id='608994' first='Emma' last='Sofis'] (Colonial Forge/[program_tooltip program_id='574146' first='108' last='Beach Volleyball Club'] - Emma ranks 49 in our class of 2025. Her 6'3 height makes her a dominant force at the net. At this point probably a better blocker than hitter. Her height allows her to tip a number of balls over the block. Her team played in a limited number of tournaments this year. Their last tournament on the schedule was the Shamrock Showdown, which played last month. Unless they play in AAUs their season is done. For this club April through July is dedicated for the beach.   Class of 2026    Parker helped her high school win the West Virginia Class AAAA state championship. They beat Morgantown in five with Parker finishing with 16 kills as well as six blocks. She finished the season first on the team in blocks and second in kills and service aces.   She makes the commute from West Virginia to Manassas, Virginia to play for Paramount to enhance her game with high stakes competetion. At 6'3" her approach jump reaches 9'10". She does appear to read the sets well and can move quickly to the pins. She also runs the quick tempo sets well. While not dynamic she plays a smart game relying on her volleyball IQ to put balls away.     Teodora played middle for Bishop O'Connell, leading the Knights to their first state championship since 2016. She finished the championship match against Flint Hill with 12 kills and six blocks. Most of that activity occurred in the fourth and fith match when the Knights were down two sets to one. Overall, she finished second on the team in blocks and third in kills.   Playing for Metro her blocking seems to have improved. She has been more aggressive at getting to the pins with her hands penetrating over the net to close up any window. Her approach jump reaches 10'3". With a quick wrist snap she can put the ball to the floor quickly but still needs to improve on either using the block or avoiding it.     While she may be the smallest middle blocker for Paramount at 6'0" she brings the best timing for quick tempo sets. Her approach jump reaches 9'11". Paramount uses her at right side as well but her timing for hitting the higher sets is not as strong. Still, her ability to play both positions gives a team versatility.   For her high school team, she actually hits left side. While she hits the ball well she lacks that consistency she brings when playing the middle. It does appear she has the ability to play a decent back row if given the opportunity, but I have not seen a lot of her high school matches.   Paramount plays in back to back Qualifiers at the Show Me in Kansas City and at the Windy City.    [player_tooltip player_id='238850' first='Sydney' last='Bennett'] (Patriot/American) -Her middle play got Patriot High School to the Class 6 state playoffs where they lost in the opening round to Chantilly. She finished first on the team in blocks and third in kills. For the class of 2026 she ranks at number 21. Listed at 6'2" she brings good height to the middle. Last year she played for Virginia Juniors but this year she is playing for American. The choice came down to a team she feels more comfortable with. She can be a dominant force at the net. Next weekend American plays in the Northeast Qualifier.   [player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison'] (James Wood/[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) - Tenley plays for James Wood and [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']. Her two teammates [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] get most of the attention. However, Tenley has come on the scene to help Kennedy and Brenna win two Virginia Class 4 state championships with her middle play. She leads the team in blocks and fits in at third in kills. She also plays the back row so well that the Colonels play without a libero. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] is a much more balanced team. Her responsibility is to block the middle and leave the back row to others. While her height lists her at 5'10" she seems a bit taller. She ranks number 27 in our class of 2026.    Elizabeth plays middle for Colgan and right side for [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy']. This gives her a lot of versatility. For Colgan she finished second on the team in blocks and third in kills.   At 6'3" she covers a lot of ground above the net. With more strength and a faster arm swing she could produce more velocity on the ball. There is also the possibility that she could bring a couple more inches of height to her game. This makes her a player to watch.     While she belongs to the class of 2026 she plays down with a very talented Paramount 16 team. They will be playing in the 16 Open Show Me Qualifier at Kansas City. She shares the middle responsibilities with the top prospect in our class of 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] and the number three prospect in that same class [player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah'].   For high school she played for Howard, which won their first 23 matches before losing to Wootten in the Maryland Class 3 semi-finals. Dylan Loggins finished second on her team in blocks.   Paramount 16 will play in the Open Division at Show Me this weekend.     At 5'11" she is one of the smaller middles on this list, but her athleticism separates her apart from the other middles. She uses that athleticism to get her approach jump at 9'11". She earned a top performer award at our first Prep Dig showcase a couple years ago.   Jasmine will play for [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] at the East Coast Qualifiers the weekend of April 18. They took first place in their last tournament the Shamrock Showdown.

I hope to be at the Grand Prix volleyball tournament in Richmond, Virginia this weekend. Many of the top younger teams are playing in Qualifiers in Kansas City (Show Me) or Northeast. Over 70 teams from the DMV area are competing in the Northeast Qualifier in the 14-16 age divisions. That impacts the quality of teams playing in the Grand Prix, especially at the younger ages.