Five Available Middles From The Class Of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want a subscription to PrepDig? Use code Kyp30 for a deep discount on your national subscription!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our positional breakdowns move on, with the unsung heroines in the middle. Big, tough and strong, each of these five athletes have specific traits that set them apart from others, and should have a home for the fall of '26. Here they are, from five different clubs and five different parts of Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["228833"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e6a81af5d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Quick, springy and a cannon for a right arm, Addi is one of two state champions on today's list. She's fully capable of going for a zero tempo set in front of the setter AND can put away quick slides to all angles. Her 5'10" frame is underestimated, as her long arms help shut down attackers better than some middles many inches taller than she. I'm a huge fan of the quick transition and athleticism---a lot of the middles she beats are bigger, but certainly not stronger, faster or more athletic. Her future can be either as an M1 or an M2 that would significantly upgrade the stable of middles in a college program ready to coach Miss Shippy up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["487350"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e6a81afcb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The second middle listed as a state champ is a block-first middle known more for her length and ability to cover a ton of ground in a minimal amount of steps. Tucked away at WeBo, she was the one blocking force over six feet that the Stars desperately needed in quite a few matches during their state title run last fall. More of a defensive-minded M2, Miss Gott has the tools and the training to play at the collegiate level, and her wing span makes her look much taller than the six feet she currently carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["366447"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e6a81b01c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of MANY long and lean middles to come out of Zionsville, Emerson is hidden away nicely at Academy's regional club named Monon Select. Having length for days, Emerson's quick transition to a zero tempo ball is one of the better ones in the "available middles" category. A little training might be needed, as she's currently hitting the ball on her way down from her high attack touch. No matter; she still terminates higher than most available middles in this class and has a ton of high-level experience to go along with her athleticism. You can't teach six feet, and Emerson is one of many to pass through the Eagles' hallways with such length.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["334559"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e6a81b068"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tucked away at New Haven, Annika is a springy, crafty and smart middle who plays bigger than her under-six-foot frame might otherwise suggest. Common, yet tough to teach, she's one of a few middles on today's list that has a more advanced sense of blocking than most. Annika reads and reacts with the best of them, and knows what to do when set. She's a huge fan of hitting across her body, so seeing some slide attacks from her might also open up her abilities to attack at the next level. Miss Koepke is currently a solid M2, with size, skill and athleticism enough that she could eventually develop into an M1 for the college program willing to train her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["366449"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6894e6a81b0b3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Even though Miss Kay is the smallest on this list, she certainly doesn't play like she's short. Smart, athletic, and technically sound, her training and relentless work ethic allows her to find ways to terminate in any tempo and at any time. Even when the set isn't perfect, she finds a way to score points, which is more than I can say for some middles in this class. Springy, fast and always available to hit, Leah can even cover her own position by passing off-speed shots and making herself available to hit ON THE BALL THAT SHE JUST PASSED. Not too many middles will even <em>try</em> to approach for an attack, let along be able to put balls away while doing just that. Leah will be a steal for a program that's looking for a hard-working, do-anything-for-the-team technically sound middle who might not be the biggest, but will play with the biggest motor and brain on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->