2026 Middles (4A-6A conference)

The state of Arizona has a huge amount of talent when it comes to the middle position here. We have so many threats not only on defense, but on offense as well. These 13 middles below demonstrate what it takes to be that game changing middle for their team. They are some of the most efficient hitters, blockers, and leaders on their team.   The analysis came from PrepDig Scouts, their school coaches, and their club coaches. We will share some analysis about their volleyball ability and their future plans as a player!    What can we say that hasn't been already said about the number 1 senior in the class of 2026. Not only is she the number 1 middle but she is the number 1 player in the senior class because of her impact talent on both the offensive and defensive side of the court.   She has been a member of team USA as well, and played this last year for the U19 team, one could make a case she is one of the best middles in the nation and not just AZ. She currently ranks 23rd in the national rankings for all players on PrepDig.   The UCLA commit is a threat on the offensive end since she can hit in front and behind the setter, it is hard to pin point what he best offensive attack is as she hits at such a high clip when she runs those sets. She currently has a .456 hitting percentage and is killing the ball at a 52% rate. She is just a high volume and high efficiency player that you rarely see coming out of the middle.   Overall she is also a force at the net on defense, routinley taking out an opponents best player or slowing them down enough to where the other side struggles. She has great lateral movement and can get to the block even if she is a bit late because she makes up for it with her exceptional footwork.   A top of the line, and top of the class player from the middle position and an easy choice to pick for top middles of the 2026 class.     We don't want to use the term game changing lightly.. however we feel in this case we can use the term game changing when describing Hayden and how great of a middle she is.   We probably can't put into paper a strong enough description of how good she is on the court. She is someone you will want to see live before she heads off to the University of Washington to play.   On offense good luck figuring out a way to stop her, let alone even slow her down a little. She currently leads the whole conference in kills and as a middle no less. When she gets a set, she is terminating that ball and it isn't a volume or error thing either as she leads the conference in hitting percentage as well. She recently surpassed 1000 kills in her career this past week and is well on her way to being in the discussion for Gatorade Player of the Year as well.   Her physical traits also set her apart as she jumps with such explosion and presses over the net make hitters go the extra mile just to get a ball around her block. She easily has one of the best reaches and block touches in the state with her explosives as well.   This year AZ has a ton of talent in the middle but players like Hayden show their our levels to this, and she would be a prime example of what a top level middle looks like, and plays like.     Playing for one of the best teams in AZ and being one of the best players on that team is one of the highest praises we can give an athlete. Allison is a dominate force in 6A for the Gators and night in and night out does a great job standing out for them.   Allison is a 6'2 middle blocker who stands out in a number of areas but most impressively with her blocking. She has some of the quickest feet and reads the offense so well to anticipate where to set her block and be the big physical presence she is at the net. Currently this season for the Gators she is averaging 1.2 blocks a set for a total of 73 which is good for #1 in her conference at the moment.   She is also a treat on the offensive end as well, killing the ball this season at over 47% of the time. A middle who can terminate at almost a 50% clip is a great tool to have in the game. She does this by being able to hit all over the floor and using her fast arm swing to beat the block when it is just a hair late.   Next year she will be attending the University of San Diego and can see her being a day 1 contributor for them once she arrives next year! A great example of a top level 2026 middle from AZ, leaving a last impact and model for others to follow.     This 6'2 middle blocker who is committed to Louisiana- Monroe has been dominate for the Black Hawks this year. Currently averaging over 3.7 kills a set and leading her team in blocks, kills, hitting percentage, and aces. She is one of the better all around middles we have seen this year.   She has been able to do this because of ability to be an offensive threat from all positions on the floor. It does not matter where she is in serve recieve, she can hit from either pin, running a quick out of the middle, or wherever she can find a weakness to expliot she does it.   More impressively she also has a great serve that constantly leaves team out of system or puts another aces in her career total mark with each serve. She can make an impact on the game, even when she isn't in the front row.   A big physical presence at the net, on top of being a top level server is what sets this 2026 middle as one of the top seniors this year. Watch for her to continue to dominate and make a run at the all conference team this year as well!     This Cal-State Bakersfield commit has be a do it all middle for Sandra Day O'Connor this year.   Currently averaging over 2 kills a set and hitting over .330 for the Eagles she is one of the multiple offensive threats they have this year. What might set her apart one would say is her quick foot speed and powerful arm swing which enable her to beat the block if they are even one step away.   Speaking of her explosiveness she currently leads the team in blocks this year that is all about how well she gets up to meet the offensive player at the point of attack, she is a physical presence who constantly will block the opposing teams best player. Teams have to find creative ways to avoid her block or she will terminate the play with her physical play both on offense and defense.   Really easy to see why this middle is one of the best in 2026, she has all the physical and mental tools needed to be a top flight D1 middle and this makes her one of the best from AZ.     The future Wichita State player has done a great job for the Huskies this year. The defending state champs lost a lot of talent from the previous year but returned a gem in Sophia.   This year Sophia has elevated her game to a level where she has career high in kill percentage, hitting percentage, and is well on her way to setting new highs in blocks and kills. Her game has jump exponentially this years and teams are taking notice.   On the offensive end Sophia changes the game by punishing teams who single block her. Her hitting percentage is through the roof in one on one situations and most teams have to commit more then one person to slow her down. She is very fluid his her motion and has a fast arm swing that punishes the last blocks.   As for her defense she stands out in this regard because of her ability to read hitters and see where they are hitting early and often. She gets a number of block touches and blocks each match and easily is the best blocker on her team.   A all around middle who can block, hit, and serve makes it easy to see why she is a top level middle from 2026.     A 3 year starter for one of the top high school programs in the state at Hamilton High School, we have our next middle in Maris. The Big Sky conference will need to be ready to welcome a future all conference performer as she heads to Weber State next year.   We could have went a number of way with Maris and her game, one area that stood out to us was how versatile she is in the front row. We have seen her hit balls from multiple spots on the floor from a pin to a quick out of the middle. This really shows off how versatile she is and how teams can't anticipate where she is coming from as she hits at a high level from all areas on the floor.   She more importantly is a big block for Hamilton and as a team that plays one of the toughest schedules out there; she gets a opportunity almost every day of playing some of the best pins and middles in the state and will routinely slow them down or stop them. She does very well at getting her hands on the ball almost every time a set comes her way and will make teams go to other options away from her as she is too tough to go through as her timing on the block is second to none.   A middle who will not be easily replaced next year for the Huskies, we see this top level middle head off to dominate the Big Sky next year and congratulate her on being one of the top middles in AZ this year.     This 6'2 middle blocker is an absolute gem for Texas A&M Kingsville and will probably be a day 1 starter in our eyes. We see Haley as this dominate middle presence who has crushed opposing middles all season.   Haley stands out with her offense especially when her team is in system. She is able to punish the ball from all spots on the floor and will routinely devastate opposing teams defenses as they try to find ways to stop her. Once a team thinks they have a way, Haley does a good job reading the opponents well in advance and using her explosive arm swing and speed to continue to score points.   Now Haley is just as strong on defense too. I have seen many middles, pins, opposites all try and fail to go through this block. She is not only quick on her feet to go pin to pin but is able to leap and take up a lot of space with her hands to stuff hitters as they try to go through her. She will on any given night have over a block a set and not to mention 5-10 other good touches on the block.   AZ has a lot of talent this year out of the middle, but Haley could easily be one of the more underrated ones we have seen. I would expect her to make a big jump in our updated senior rankings when they come out next!     This 2026 middle is a top level middle in 5A and one could make a case one of the best overall players in 5A. She is a making a big case to be region player of the year for her region this year as the Falcons have started the season 10-1. A large part of that is attributed to Karease.   She currently leads the Falcons in just about every major statistical category and is the go to offensive weapon for the team. Other teams know she is getting the ball and offense and they can't stop her as she can hit from all spaces on the floor and can terminate from the pins if she needs to as well. She has that all around game and court awareness to see openings in the block and in the defense to score easy points.   Her blocking is another story because most teams won't even attempt to try to go through her, they will take their chances going around her or tipping over here. She has great footwork and amazing lateral movement that helps her get to the block and is almost never late or fooled by the setter.   A force at the net with both her offense and defense makes it easy to see why she is one of the top 2026 middles in the state of AZ.     ACP has a great one in Reyna here. She is a top level middle who can do it all with her offense and defense at the net.   From a scouts view we have seen her dominate from the middle with her offense game and not just with her power either. Although she has an amazing arm swing and routinely rips through the block, she is also very smart and will steal points with her off speed shots when the opportunity presents itself.   As for her blocking, she puts up a big block with her arms easily taking up a lot of space and angles that hitters have to work around. She is one of the top blockers in her conference and state with 63 blocks at the moment. Teams haven't figured out that they can't go through Reyna, and she routinely punishes them with her physical net play.   With her defense alone, she would be considered one of the best in the state, but throw in her offense it is easy to see why she is one of the best middles in 2026.     Kahlen is one of those athletes who keeps getting better year in and year out. If you look between her junior and senior year stats you will see a athlete who has figured out how to be a a top level player in the middle with her significant jump in hitting percentage and kill efficiency.   On offense she is one of the fastest middles out there and is never out of the play. She only needs to get two steps in and is able to beat almost all defenders out there. She can do it all as well by hitting in front and behind the setter as well. She is also able to use her court awareness and can put balls straight down when the block is there or is able to hit those deep corners when a block gets to her. Her offense is never the same, can do it all whether the team is in system or out of system she is a constant and efficient threat.   On defense.. good luck! Kahlen might be a bit undersize for a middle but just like her offense, she is explosive and able to meet the ball at the highest point to block opposing hitters. What she lacks in height she makes up for in explosiveness with her vertical and her ability to press over the net.   Kahlen is going to be a steal for whoever ends up signing her as recruit this year, she is a force at the net and is able to change the game with her all around ability. Easily one of the top middles in the class for 2026.     Megan is one of the best senior middles in the state and is the best southern Arizona middles you could argue. When you ask other teams coaches, or coaches who have worked with Megan you will hear the term leader, energetic, grit, and role model. Having all the other factors you look for in your player can also set you apart in terms of being a game changing middle.   However, as for the volleyball aspect Megan is a great middle who can terminate the ball at a high efficiency number. She currently leaders her team in blocks, aces, and is 3rd in kills. She is one of the top blocker not only on her team but in her region and conference as well.   She has a very high game sense and can see things before they are happening on the defensive end. She anticipates well and is able to read the game to get good touches on the block. Offensively she changes the game with her ability to beat one on ones almost all day. In order to slow her down you need to commit multiple blockers to stoping her.   One of Southern AZ best middle blockers, and a top 2026 middle for all of AZ.     Josie is a offense force to be reckoned with and the University of Portland is getting a steal in this middle blocker.   Her offensive game is where she stands out because of her ability to hit from in front and hit from behind the setter too. She has the dynamic ability to run her offense game in different areas to keep the defenses guessing. She is currently averaging almost 2 kills a set for the Vikings this season and was also named team captain as well.   Her blocking game is also on a high level, she seems to touch the ball in a effective way on every play. A lot of that is attributed to her footwork and quick first step. She has one of the best first steps to the ball we have seen and can make up a lot of ground going from pin to pin, the longer a rally foes the more likely she is to finish the play off with a kill or block as she is always one step ahead.   She is doing so well, and is killing it at the 6A level this year look for a big jump from this young lady in our next rankings update.

The state of Arizona has a huge amount of talent when it comes to the middle position here. We have so many threats not only on defense, but on offense as well. These 13 middles below demonstrate what it takes to be that game changing middle for their team. They are some of the most efficient hitters, blockers, and leaders on their team.