Middles We’re Watching In The Class Of 2027

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want a subscription to PrepDig? Use code Kyp30 for 30% off of your annual subscription! And don't forget to follow @KypPDIN on X for all of your Indiana high school and club volleyball news!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With every new-and-improved update of our rankings come the positional breakdowns. We talked about the various pin hitters we're watching in yesterday's article. Today, we talked about the unsung heroines that are the biggest (literally) part of any program, the middles. Here are five available middles from around the state that are worth the price of admission.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["443858"],"_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-69ab18ec569a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It appears that every time I watch this young lady play, she adds yet another piece to her skill set. This time around, she showed at Hoosier Regionals that her slide is improved and—dare I say it—-terminal. Becoming a complete middle is hard; most her size perfect one aspect, and stay stagnant throughout their careers. In Miss Mays' case, her constant, consistent improvement of all parts of her game shows out each and every time she takes the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["789191"],"_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-69ab18ec56a26"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Undersized but springy, Ja'Maria takes advantage of every slow, lumbering middle out there and out jumps them all. Her lightning-quick transition, coupled with a relentlessness few can compete with, make her an easy recruiting target in this class. She has All-State and (possibly) AAU All-American written all over her, and her quickness and athleticism lead the way. Add to all of this her ability to read and react at a collegiate level, and she's ripe for the picking for this class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["529468"],"_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-69ab18ec56a75"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Length is Brooklyn's strength, and she shows it off on both offense and defense regularly. On defense, she's a stalwart blocker—-strong hands and shoulders, coupled with an upper-level read-and-react posture, help make her one of the more consistent blockers in this class. On offense, she hits a heavy ball, which is hard to defend at the block level as well as on the floor. Miss Wake looks to be more of an M2 at this time, and needs to be paired with a setter that understands how high her jump touch is to reach her full potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["502100"],"_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-69ab18ec56abc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Part of the stable of middles at Westfield, Madden has known nothing but high-end, open-level play and training during her volleyball career. Size is the key here, as there are very few in this or any class in Indiana that can match her 6'3” frame. Capable of playing either middle position, Madden's long transitional strides quickly switch her from defense to offense, and setters can connect with her because of that relentless drive with her legs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["583894"],"_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-69ab18ec56b00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Heavy-hitting and relentless, Audrey's physical presence is intimidating in any of the front row positions. She's listed as both a middle and a pin attacker, so that's cheating on my part, but her abilities go far beyond being able to hit in any position. Projecting to be a middle at the next level, she's more refined in her attack than her block at the moment. Broad-shouldered and strong, Audrey's ability to terminate in any tempo of ball at any angle from any area along the net will carry her far into this recruiting process, and will be a gem of a pickup for a school looking for a hybrid middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->