AAU Nationals: Grab Your Popcorn These Middles Are On Fire

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>This article was shared with 150+ college coaches.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Join PrepDig with 30% off using code:&nbsp;<em><strong>digdakotas30</strong></em></strong></a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't think enough people talk about how much middles can change a match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While watching the 15 Open Division, I kept finding myself paying attention to what was happening in the middle. One rally it was a block. The next it was a quick attack. Then it was a middle getting back up in transition and scoring again. It just seemed like they were everywhere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What really caught my attention was how many of these athletes were doing it against some of the best teams in the country. They weren't putting together one good set and disappearing. They were staying involved and continuing to find ways to impact matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The players below are a few middles that I kept writing down while working through matches. They're still playing, still competing for a gold ball, and have played a big role in helping their teams get there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["782749"],"_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-6a3875f468367"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Whenever I watched [player_tooltip player_id='782749' first='Alessandra' last='Harris'], she was always in a play that was changing momentum. It was a block that killed an attack, one rally. The next was a quick-tempo kill before the D could set. What struck you most was the pressure she put on teams to explain her. You look away from Alessandra for a second and you'll regret it. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[program_tooltip program_id='432170' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432088' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431000' first='Madison' last='']' last='']' last=''] Middleton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"A5","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a3896ac57ff3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='432170' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432088' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431000' first='Madison' last='']' last='']' last=''] Middleton is already playing on the national stage with the Girls U17 National Team and it shows in the way she plays. What struck me over the last few days was how comfortable she looked against high-level competition. Nothing felt rushed. She was closing blocks, sprinting up in transition, and remaining a point-scoring option all game. Sometimes it appeared that [program_tooltip program_id='432170' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432088' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431000' first='Madison' last='']' last='']' last=''] was involved in all of the big rallies. She's one of the most complete middles in this age group with her physicality, timing and ability to impact both sides of the ball. To be frank, she looked like a player who has already been recognized at the national level. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["888953"],"_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-6a3884a0bfcc1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kennedy Thomas had a presence that was hard to ignore. She did a great job of taking away space at the net and forcing hitters into uncomfortable swings. She was aggressive on the offensive and just able to attack when the opportunity was there. Kennedy also was not just in the offense. She was helping to steer it. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["768919"],"_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-6a3884a0bfd30"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of those middies who got stronger as games got more competitive was [player_tooltip player_id='768919' first='Alex' last='Cody']. She was always an option in transition and found ways to score even when defenses knew she was a factor. What stood out was how often she made blockers respect the middle, opening things up for everyone around her. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["912003"],"_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-6a3884a0bfd9c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='912003' first='Lucie' last='Amonett'] was very active at the net. Always moving, always fast, she never seemed content to be a decoy. Lucie was a girl who knew how to take her chances. Whether it was plugging a block or running in transition, she kept causing problems for the opposition. She played with confidence. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774788"],"_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-6a3884a0bfe06"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another middle, Jean DeBow, was always good for making a difference in games. She did a nice job of pressing over the net, taking away angles and forcing hitters to make adjustments. Offensively, Jean was there and rewarded her setters when they got her the ball. The deeper the matches, the more her influence appeared to grow. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple: to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. Every player deserves a shot, and I'm honored to help tell their stories.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Please help us continue to grow this positive platform for players by spreading the word and encouraging your friends to subscribe at PrepDig.com. 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