Wisconsin Freshman Showcase: Rising Middles Who Dominated the Net

The middle blocker position is often where games are won and lost, and several players at the Wisconsin Freshman Showcase proved they're already ahead of the curve. From putting up big blocks to running quick attacks, these rising middles showed their presence at the net and made a strong case as names to watch in the coming years. Here are a few girls who left their mark.    Gretchen was one of the first middles to really stand out. She already shows impressive footwork for a freshman, moving quickly to close blocks and transition into her attack. Add in a heavy arm swing and the ability to put up a solid block, and she's a tough matchup at the net. There's no doubt we'll be seeing her name in the rankings soon.     Margot is the kind of middle who plays with a high volleyball IQ. She keeps herself available on offense, always giving her setters an option, and reads hitters well on the defensive side. Her ability to track attackers and put up a strong, well-timed block makes her a steady presence at the net.     Holly brought a fiery energy every time she stepped on the court. She plays with confidence and isn't afraid to take smart, aggressive swings. Whether it was tooling the block or finding the open spots on the court, she consistently found ways to score. That ability to mix energy with smart shot selection makes her a big difference-maker at the net.     Elliana showed off a versatile skill set that makes her a real weapon in the middle. She can hit the deep corners with ease and adds another dimension to the offense by running an effective slide. On top of that, she can step over to the right side and still be just as dangerous. Combine that with her ability to put up a solid block, and she proved to be a key presence on both sides of the ball.     Ella impressed with the strength she brings behind every swing, consistently finding ways to score with power. She makes smart choices in her shot selection, showing maturity in her game, and her strong footwork keeps her in good position to execute on both offense and defense. To round it out, she also brings a tough serve that puts pressure on opponents right from the start of the point.

The middle blocker position is often where games are won and lost, and several players at the Wisconsin Freshman Showcase proved they're already ahead of the curve. From putting up big blocks to running quick attacks, these rising middles showed their presence at the net and made a strong case as names to watch in the coming years. Here are a few girls who left their mark.