Middles Making Moves In The Class Of ‘29

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want a subscription to PrepDig? Use code Kyp30 for 30% off of your annual subscription! And follow @KypPDIN on X for all your Indiana high school and club news!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend marks the beginning of the club season here in Indiana, with a Mideast Power League leading the way. With that, plus the release of our first true class of 2029 rankings, we dive deeper than anyone into a positional breakdown of players from around the state. Here are five middles from five different clubs from all parts of the Hoosier State that are making recruiting moves early in their club careers, and should continue to do the same this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774359"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695691b1ec0b6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's start with the obvious—-she's 6'4”. No other player in the entirety of our ‘29 rankings has that kind of size (that I know of, at least). Now, add superior training, good foot movement, the ability to use her size to her advantage and a constant competitive motor, and you have a future D1 middle in LaPorte, Indiana. She has the tools, she has the athleticism, and she has the means to get better. All that she needs now is time in the gym to show off and show out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["753655"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695691b1ec113"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">From what I like to call “Middle High School”, Ainsley is one of many long-and-lean middles that annual come out of Zionsville ready for open-level ball. Miss Sauder's length is her strength, and she can defend from pin to pin as well as she can attack as an M1 or an M2 in any situation. She's going to see plenty of high-end competition this spring, and her challenge will be what to do when bigger middles come along. I'm looking forward to her adjustments against size and speed in her opponents, as there's not a lot of either in central Indiana in her class in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["924221"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695691b1ec15c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Speaking of length, Alana has it in droves, and uses all of it to her advantage regularly. On the attack, she's more of an M2, but prefers a ball high and fast enough to account for her long reach and high attack point. On defense, she's tough to go around or through, as her lengthy reach is disciplined and strong, regardless of which position she is blocking. Alana is a full package M2 for the next level, and has a full four years of club to go to perfect her craft.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["847501"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695691b1ec19d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A high-jumping and physical middle, Elena is a diamond-in-the-rough type of middle. Despite her height not <em>quite</em> at six feet, she still jumps quite well, attacks at a very high point, and can terminate with a heavy ball regularly. Although South Bend Saint Joseph isn't exactly known for their volleyball prowess, it's nice to see a kid like Elena disrupt the standard of what a middle looks like from north central Indiana. I look forward to her progression at NIVA this coming spring, as this will allow her the high-end reps that a kid with her athleticism needs to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["903663"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695691b1ec1dc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Raw, athletic and with a ton of potential, Harper is a big and physical middle that hits a heavy ball and can terminate with a high and hard attack. Her transfer from Monon Select to Munciana is a huge upgrade to her training, so I'm looking forward to how that transitions her recruiting stock to an upward trajectory. With a little quickness and leg strength added in the weight room, Harper will be an absolute steal for anyone looking for a strong, broad-shouldered middle for the class of ‘29.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->