Established Forces: Top Middles from the Stock Up Showcase

There is no position I get more excited about covering than middle blockers, partly due to the fact that I was one, and also due to the fact I think it is one of the most difficult to play (alongside setting) and least celebrated. I think of the position like being an offensive lineman in football, super important, but often overlooked, and very physically demanding. To watch young players doing it well is always a treat. It takes a special type of young person to be able to put in the work that this position demands without all the praise and these top five middles are doing just that. So, let's celebrate them!    Powell is no stranger to my articles or lists of top middles in Indiana and for good reason. She just continues to get better and better each time I get to watch her play. Abbie was easily one of my picks for Top Performers at the Stock Up Showcase and maybe the best front row player there; I am really glad she came, as she upped the level of play for everyone. She plays high above the net AND fast, allowing her to beat the block most of the time whether she is in front of or behind the setter. Right now she is very terminal on both the 1 and 31 balls and her slide attack is definitely getting there. She can move from pin-to-pin with ease on the block and NEVER takes a play off - I think she only knows one speed and that is FAST (which I love). Expect her to move up quickly in our rankings and on coaches lists for June 15th, 2026.     Like Powell, Lauck is no stranger to my articles having caught my eye over a year ago during her 14s club season. She is a confident, in-control player who loves to work hard and completely owns the net. Paityn takes her position very seriously and seems to really embrace her job as the enforcer of the net - she isn't timid, and she certainly is never scared of who is across the net from her. Right now, she looks like an M2 to me, but I will definitely say that her slide attack has improved and looks much more comfortable and regular when she runs it. Blocking is a HUGE strength of Lauck's, and I would argue that she was the top blocker of the showcase, sometimes getting multiple blocks in one rally.     Miller is a new middle blocker to me, so I am really glad she came to the showcase, as I got a chance to see some excellent play from her. She was one of the taller middles who came and definitely made her presence known right away during hitting drills. Emily can easily bounce balls on the 10' line in both directions on attacks in front of the setter. On top of that, I thought she was one of the better slide attackers of the bunch and would make an excellent M1 based on that ability. Miller puts up a big, solid block and if she continues to develop her lateral speed will be a serious wall at the net. If she can improve her ability to watch the pass/dig to the setter and adjust, she is going to be a LOT to deal with for opposing teams.     If you are looking for sheer athleticism and speed, Ragan is your type of middle blocker. She had one of the higher block touches of the bunch and was able to absolutely roof some attackers to where covering the block wasn't even a possibility. Ward's leaping ability also gives her room to hit over the block sometimes, making her very difficult to defend, especially on the 1 ball. As of now I would say she is more of an M2, but she certainly has the ability to develop her attack behind the setter on the slide in the next couple of years. Ragan will be an absolute stud for Pike this year and I look for her to be a HUGE part of their offense, allowing her to develop quickly over this high school season. She is so fun to watch and is poised to be an elite player at the next level, so make sure to remember her name!     When I think of a kid I would love to coach as a middle, I think of Danica. She clearly loves the game and is driven to improve her craft and never stop learning - each time I have seen her play she has gotten significantly better and more confident. One area of improvement I really noticed was her quickness on offense and her fast arm swing making her a very efficient attacker, especially in front of the setter. Dowling's transition has improved as well, and she is clearly working on being an option on offense every single time - a skill that I wish more young middles would focus on. If she can keep working on her lateral speed when blocking so she can close quickly and more often, Danica is going to be a menace to the teams she plays against. I love having her in the gym and can't wait to see how she develops over the next year or so with all of the hard work she is putting in.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">If you loved this article, please follow our Instagram page, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/abovethenetvolleyball">Prep Dig IN | Above The Net Volleyball</a> for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes action.</h3>   After following our page, take the next step and subscribe to PrepDig! By subscribing, you'll not only stay connected to the latest coverage of your favorite events, but you'll also be helping to shine a spotlight on rising volleyball talent.   Use discount code Smith30 for an exclusive discount!   Year-Round Coverage: Access all PrepDig articles nationwide.   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There is no position I get more excited about covering than middle blockers, partly due to the fact that I was one, and also due to the fact I think it is one of the most difficult to play (alongside setting) and least celebrated. I think of the position like being an offensive lineman in football, super important, but often overlooked, and very physically demanding. To watch young players doing it well is always a treat. It takes a special type of young person to be able to put in the work that this position demands without all the praise and these top five middles are doing just that. So, let's celebrate them!