Rally Cup Recap MBs Pt. 1: Wall at the Net, Fire in the Middle

Middle blockers are more than tall bodies at the net—they're the engine of a strong defense and the spark for fast-paced offense. These next six middles made their presence known, disrupting opposing attacks and giving their teams consistency through chaos. From pinches to slides, they were locked in all weekend.    Loren stood out with her quick lateral movement and fast hands. She was especially sharp on off-ball movement, closing blocks from antenna to antenna. Her hustle on second contact and ability to disrupt opposing hitters made her a defensive cornerstone for Ringgold. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast     A veteran presence in the middle, Eva showed advanced timing and finesse. She mixed up tempos, slowed down big swings with soft blocks, and executed well-timed reads against faster offenses. With her experience and height, she was a steadying force for her squad all weekend. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast     Peytyn plays big. She's one of the most aggressive middles in the tournament with an explosive approach and an assertive arm. She stayed active on every transition and hunted for open space with her swings. Her tenacity and fast feet made her a matchup problem for most opponents. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast     Brooklyn brought consistent pressure at the net for Dunwoody. She stays balanced on the block, rarely over-commits, and makes excellent decisions on slide and front-quick options. Her senior leadership was evident in the way she stayed vocal and directed younger teammates. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast     Jordan was an absolute wall in the middle. She timed her block reads incredibly well and converted touches into quick kills. Her court communication was equally sharp—making her a reliable outlet on both first tempo and transition balls. A cerebral middle with a high ceiling. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast     This Rally Cup MVP didn't just show up — she dominated. With 42 kills and 10 blocks on the final day alone, Jade's court awareness and speed made her virtually unplayable. She runs a quick tempo, closes blocks with discipline, and leads with fire. A high-level D1 prospect who continues to prove she's more than just height. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast    Note to GA Athletes: If I didn't get the chance to write about you this week — I see you and I appreciate your game! I covered as many players as I could at AAU Nationals, but with limited time and so many talented athletes, I couldn't feature everyone. If you'd like to be considered for future coverage, please send me your high school season schedule and share a little bit about yourself so I can come support you and share your story. Let's keep building Georgia volleyball together! Fill out the "Cover My Game" Link in my bio @benchtobeast on IG   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">If you enjoyed this article, show your support by following<a href="https://www.instagram.com/benchtobeast/"> BenchtoBeast</a> for exclusive Georgia content, behind-the-scenes action, and a closer look at the volleyball community you love.</h3>   We're on a mission to spotlight talent, uplift families, and bring the volleyball community closer than ever! Huge shoutout to our amazing subscribers — you're the heartbeat of this movement. Thank you for your help growing the game, and making every moment unforgettable. The best is yet to come — let's get it!   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">This journey is created by the village—athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers.</h4>   Building bridges between hustle and opportunity — that's the power of this community! ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast

Middle blockers are more than tall bodies at the net—they're the engine of a strong defense and the spark for fast-paced offense. These next six middles made their presence known, disrupting opposing attacks and giving their teams consistency through chaos. From pinches to slides, they were locked in all weekend.