Mighty Middles at the Indiana Exposure Tour

<p><em><strong>Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p>   <p><em><strong>The Prep Dig Exposure Tour is coming to Michigan on December 21! This is for all 2026-2029 prospects. <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2032/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-michigan#register">Click here to register</a>, and use promo code “LSHOTPD25” to get $10 off your registration.<br></strong></em>–</p>   <p>This was an incredible day of volleyball full of new faces (to me) and a lot of exciting talent to talk about.</p>   <p>As a guy who focuses a lot of his time primarily on the Michigan kids with a touch of just about everybody come club season, being on tape for this weekend's stop in Indiana for the Exposure Tour was a lot of fun. While I get to see a lot of Indiana kids throughout the club circuit, there is so much talent in this state. It is simply so hard to see all that the Hoosier state has to offer.</p>   <p>For this event, I saw a lot of great stuff from all aspects of the gym. From the pure positional separation of it all, to the communicative grit and effort that these Indiana kids bring to the court.</p>   <p>Next up, let's talk about them tough as nails middles. There were so many great ones on tap for this event, it would be a field day for any college coach to see. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='909075' first='Rhianna' last='Wallace'] - Leo</h2>   <p>This middle brings a lot of everything to the court. She's a touch smaller for a middle, but [player_tooltip player_id='909075' first='Rhianna' last='Wallace'] is uber explosive. She jumps well, brings a lot of speed with her swing and can get things done. I also loved her play from the service line where she has one nasty hybrid serve.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='722892' first='Abbie' last='Powell'] - Southern Wells </h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='722892' first='Abbie' last='Powell'] may be listed as a middle blocker but she looks super comfortable from anywhere on the court. Her movement is just so fluid and she can grab the ball at a such a high contact. Her range of shots is impressive, from multiple positions. As a middle she hit any route you give her and spread the ball around with ease. When she was getting some pin action, she looked more comfortable than most.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='910652' first='Caroline' last='Damer'] - Mt. Vernon </h2>   <p>I really loved this one's arm speed, it allows her to be dangerous even on the most unideal of sets. Caroline Damers was finding ways. The one fun things, especially with the middles when they come to these things is you get to see their athleticism and ability to adjust. When hitting off of a variety of tosses, sets, some may not be the greatest. But it shows a lot when a player in this position that requires such attention can make this adjustments.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='569786' first='Paityn' last='Lauck'] - Carroll </h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='569786' first='Paityn' last='Lauck'] boasts such a live wire arm! She brings a ton of energy to the court and is the type of middle you do not want to see on the opposite side of the net. Her energy is contagious and I can only imagine when this girl steps into the ring against a live opponent, she packs a mighty punch.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='817825' first='Ragan' last='Ward'] - Pike </h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='817825' first='Ragan' last='Ward'] just simply jumps out of the gym! This player is the definition of 'float like a butterfly and sting like a bee'. To compliment her extraordinary leaping abilities, she has a quick arm and a vast range of shots at her disposal. I was able to see her run just about every route imaginable and yet her scoring was never compromised.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='583894' first='Audrey' last='Staggs'] - Northview </h2>   <p>I liked seeing just how heavy of a ball this one can hit. I also enjoyed seeing Audrey Staggsn find success off of multiple setters, too. With her patience to read the pass and follow the ball, she puts herself in better opportunities than most. She has a great range and could even see her with a future on the pins. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='787567' first='Emily' last='Miller'] - Northfield </h2>   <p>This middle has a very strong presence when attacking in front of the setter. When [player_tooltip player_id='787567' first='Emily' last='Miller'] is able to connect on the ball, she really can put a dent in the floor. With her size and athleticism, I could see her developing into quite the well rounded player. She is on a really balanced, highly talented Pineapple team this season and I will be keeping tabs. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='590018' first='Karleigh' last='Smith'] - Hamilton Southeastern </h2>   <p>This is long and lengthy middle a really nice size to be a demanding middle. When [player_tooltip player_id='590018' first='Karleigh' last='Smith'] is connecting on the ball, she can really muster up some shots. I'm excited to see her development throughout the club season as she can become a premier middle in the class.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='730369' first='Taylor' last='Helbert'] - Lighthouse Christian Academy</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='730369' first='Taylor' last='Helbert'] may be one of the “smaller” middles in the group, but she was very much one of the most athletic. When it came to connecting with multiple setters throughout the event, she's first to connect with each the fastest. She's very fast twitched & showed some domination running the slide.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='753655' first='Ainsley' last='Sauder'] - Zionsville</h2>   <p>This young middle is only a freshman, and that should be taken as a warning for many when they see [player_tooltip player_id='753655' first='Ainsley' last='Sauder'] come across their court. She showed flashes of elite level play mixed in with her youth. When she can make a clean contact with the set, there's no denying her the point. Whether it be in front of or behind the setter. This club season is going to be a big one for her and her development, for sure.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='822302' first='Arielle' last='Stephens'] - Fort Wayne Snider</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='822302' first='Arielle' last='Stephens'] brings a lot of tough play to the court. As an attacker, she can bring the boom throughout a variety of routes. She also shown quite the eye for the block and can be quite a demanding one at the net. Stephens is a young player that is poised for an electric season ahead of her.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='847596' first='Hali' last='Pershing'] - Southwood</h2>   <p>I was really enjoying seeing [player_tooltip player_id='847596' first='Hali' last='Pershing']'s overall play throughout the day. She is no one trick pony. No, she can be used in just any way you need her as an attacker. Listed as a middle blocker, she is one solid one at that, too. I enjoyed her net play and swing in the middle. However, Pershing jumped into play some pin when needed, she can muster up a nice shot or two out on the left side.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='741564' first='Isabella' last='Manos'] - Providence </h2>   <p>This middle really brings a complete skill set to the court. Not only can [player_tooltip player_id='741564' first='Isabella' last='Manos'] be a demanding, physical attacker but she is one tough block to contest with. She understands how to manipulate her hands separately for the ability to close off angles. This was one thing that stood out to me. Many young blockers block very parallel to each other. She uses her vision and reads the player to make these diving moves ti close off avenues. It's an elite skill to have at such a young age.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='881023' first='Cailin' last='Coon'] - Mt. Vernon </h2>   <p>She is one of the smaller middles on tap, but nonetheless, she impressed me very much. [player_tooltip player_id='881023' first='Cailin' last='Coon'] jumps well, hits a quick ball and can really elevate her game via her speed and athleticism. This is growing to become the name of the game when it comes to middle blockers, you don't have to be the biggest to find success, but speed and being athlete, Coon has all of it, and it takes her far.</p>

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