Middles Take Over the Battle at the Beach

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Middle hitters at the </strong><strong><em>Battle at the Beach</em></strong><strong> proved they weren't just tall bodies at the net—they were the defensive wall and offensive engines that turned rallies around. Agile footwork, fast transitions, and explosive swings separated these middles from the rest.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":889070,"width":"150px","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/img_2767.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-889070" style="width:150px" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='821680' first='Addyson' last='Avery'] (Trinity Catholic) the Mississippi State University commit lived up to the school mascot and was a bulldog at the net. Athletic and relentless, she loaded the block with precision and finished plays with powerful slides that energized her squad.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":889247,"width":"125px","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/jgj01579.jpg?w=710" alt="" class="wp-image-889247" style="width:125px" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ellie Decker (Ponte Vedra), at 6'5”, was a force in both speed and net presence. She closed blocks midline, invaded opponents' attacking space, and made herself available on quick transitions. Her ability to score from multiple angles was was an asset to her team.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":889054,"width":"150px","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/img_2783.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-889054" style="width:150px" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='810034' first='Aaliyah' last='Cancellari'] (Northside Christian), an Ohio State commit, was a rare six-rotation middle who could attack from back row as effectively as the front. She changed matchups by being unpredictable in her zones of attack.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Savannah Fleischhauer (Palm Harbor) showed off her timing and explosiveness. Her aggressive approach allowed her to get on top of the ball and split the block. Defensively, she sealed off zones, making hitters think twice.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":889239,"width":"250px","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/img_2781-crop-1458x957-1758812036.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-889239" style="width:250px" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='845319' first='Candice' last='Holloway'] (Northside Christian), a Syracuse commit, tracked balls with precision. Her quick transition into attack made her one of the most consistent weapons at the net.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>These middles weren't just finishers—they were floor generals who controlled tempo, suffocated hitters, and sparked momentum for their squads.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->