Q and A’s From Top Middles In The Dakotas: Get To Know Them Now

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: digdakotas30</a>   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a>   The middle blocker position might be one of the most demanding roles on the volleyball court. They're expected to establish the block, close seams, run tempo, stay available in transition, and still find ways to impact a match offensively. Most of their work happens in the middle of every rally, and a lot of what they do never shows up in the stat sheet.   The Dakotas continue to produce some outstanding talent at the position, and this group is no exception. These athletes bring size, athleticism, volleyball IQ, and the work ethic needed to compete at a high level. More importantly, they understand what it takes to influence a match from the middle of the court.   As June 15 approaches and college coaches continue building recruiting boards, these are players worth getting to know. We sat down with some of the top middle blockers in the Dakotas to learn more about their game, their goals, and what drives them to be successful.    Why do you want to play college volleyball?    Volleyball has been a huge part of my life since I was young and it's brought me so many amazing friendships an d opportunities. I love the sense of family that being on a team brings you, and I love having something that I've worked so hard for be worth it. I want to play college volleyball because I want to continue playing the sport I love.   What does your training schedule look like in-season and off-season?    We don't have much of an off season but we typically have a couple weeks inbetween school and club season in the summer, but those weeks are filled with college camps, lifting, school open gyms, and club skill camps. Then, during school season, we have practice Monday-Friday from 4-6, with lifting on Mondays and Wednesday, and games usually on Tuesday and/or Thursdays. With the occasional Saturday practice. Then in club season we usually practice 3 times a week for 2 and a half hours, with sometimes the additional middle training for an hour before that. Then, in the summers we have conditioning after practice. During our busiest time we will have a travel tournament, with a minimum of a 4 hour drive, every other weekend. It is a big commitment but I love it and it's so worth it.   What are your academic interests or intended major?    I was raised by two doctors so I've always been interested in the medical field, specifically becoming a CRNA, NP, or PA. I would want to major in biology or nursing most likely. I also really like talking to others and helping people which I think would be a good fit for nursing. In general, I just want to have a job that works with others.   How do you balance school, sports, and your personal life?    It is difficult to balance intense sport schedule with my social life, on top of a rigorous course load, but my parents are super supportive and offer me all the help I need. Our long practices during the week make it hard to find time after school to get my homework done, especially during track season, so I try to do as much work as I can and be efficient with my time during the school day. I try to focus on one thing at a time so I don't get overwhelmed and so I have a specific plan of action to get everything done. Also, I find time to hang out with my friends on the weekends I don't have tournaments when I have more time, and on days where I don't have practice because they are freer (except I still have lifting those days).   My Final Thoughts:   [player_tooltip player_id='733931' first='Elsa' last='Basel'] is one of the top middle blockers in this class because of how complete her game already is. The more I watch her compete, the more you notice the details. She understands timing, reads the game well, and consistently puts herself in position to impact points. Whether she's closing a block, running a slide, or staying available in transition, she plays with a level of confidence and awareness that is difficult to teach.   What stands out most is how polished she is offensively. Her slide attack is one of the best you'll find in this class, and she continues to be aggressive at the net while still making smart decisions. She doesn't need everything to be perfect around her to be effective. She finds ways to stay involved, create opportunities, and keep pressure on opponents throughout a match.   For college coaches, this is the type of middle blocker you want to evaluate early. Elsa combines volleyball IQ, offensive versatility, consistency, and a strong understanding of the position. When June 15 arrives, she should be one of the first middle blockers on your contact list.~Theresa @prepdigdakotas   Highlight Link: <a href="https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/elsa_basel?video=6557398">https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/elsa_basel?video=6557398</a>     Why do you want to play college volleyball?    I love playing volleyball and I have so many opportunities through doing it. Including making lasting friendships, learning how to work through challenges, communication, and shine Jesus' light!   What does your training schedule look like in-season and off-season?    Lifting 4 days a week during the summer and 3 days a week during the season as well as practice 2 days a week   What are your academic interests or intended major?    Sports Physical Therapy and Psychology.   How do you balance school, sports, and your personal life?    I really have to focus on this and plan out my week the weekend before to make sure I don't overcommit.   My Final Thoughts:   [player_tooltip player_id='770735' first='Brenna' last='De Vries'] is a player that continues to catch my attention every time I watch her compete. She brings a strong presence at the net and understands how to impact a match beyond just collecting kills. She works hard to establish the middle offensively, stays available in transition, and consistently gives her setter an option throughout rallies. That's a quality coaches value because it helps keep an offense balanced and difficult to defend.   What stands out about Brenna is how engaged she stays from point to point. She doesn't disappear when the rally extends. Defensively, she's continuing to improve her block timing and does a good job closing space at the net. Offensively, she's becoming more comfortable attacking in different situations and finding ways to stay effective even when the play isn't perfect.   The best middle blockers understand that their job is bigger than attacking the ball, and Brenna embraces that part of the position. The more I watch her, the more I appreciate the value she brings to a lineup. She's a player whose best volleyball is still ahead of her, and that's exactly why college coaches should be paying attention.~Theresa@prepdigdakotas   Highlight Link: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Tu9Sg">http://www.hudl.com/v/2Tu9Sg</a>     Why do you want to play college volleyball?    I want to play volleyball in college because I have a passion for the sport, and hope to play it as long as I can while meeting new people.   What does your training schedule look like in-season and off-season?    I do strength and conditioning training 2-3 times a week year round. I also play basketball and track so I do as much as I can with club volleyball during those seasons.   What are your academic interests or intended major?    I am interested in pursuing a nursing degree to later become a nurse practitioner.   How do you balance school, sports, and your personal life?    It gets super difficult being a three sport athlete, however I take pride in my time management so that helps a lot. Using time wisely and making sure to get good sleep every night keeps me energized and able to stay on schedule with everything going on.   My Final Thoughts:   [player_tooltip player_id='745911' first='Jersey' last='Peterson'] is a player that continues to stand out because of how active she is at the net. She works hard to stay connected offensively, gives her setter a dependable option through the middle, and competes for every point. Whether she's establishing the block or staying available in transition, she's consistently involved in what her team is trying to accomplish.   What I've noticed watching Jersey is that she doesn't wait for plays to come to her. She's constantly working to create opportunities and stays engaged even when rallies extend. Defensively, she continues to improve her ability to take away space at the net, while offensively she keeps pressure on opponents by staying available and forcing defenses to account for her.   The more I watch Jersey, the more I appreciate how much value she brings to a lineup. She embraces the responsibilities that come with playing in the middle and understands how to impact matches in ways that don't always show up in the stat sheet. As her game continues to develop, she's the type of player that coaches are going to be glad they identified early in the recruiting process.~Theresa@prepdigdakotas   Highlight Link: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2TCDHm">http://www.hudl.com/v/2TCDHm</a>     Why do you want to play college volleyball?    I enjoy the sport and love the relationships that I build along the way.   What does your training schedule look like in-season and off-season?    In-season: practices and lifting. Off-season- more lifting and muscle building, occasional court play/club season in spring.   What are your academic interests or intended major?    Dental Hygienist   How do you balance school, sports, and your personal life?    I make time for the people and things I love and let the rest of my time balance itself out.   My Final Thoughts:   [player_tooltip player_id='727621' first='Katelyn' last='Deringer'] is a middle blocker that stands out because of how steady she is on the court. She understands her responsibilities at the net and consistently does the little things that help a team succeed. Whether it's establishing the block, staying available as a first-tempo option, or helping create opportunities for teammates, she brings a level of consistency that coaches appreciate.   What I notice about Katelyn is how comfortable she looks within the flow of a match. She isn't chasing plays or forcing offense. She stays disciplined with her footwork, reads situations well, and makes quality decisions as rallies develop. Those details matter because they allow her to impact points in ways that don't always show up on a stat sheet.   Katelyn's game is built on a strong foundation. She understands the position, competes hard, and continues to improve the areas that matter most for middle blockers. As the level of competition rises, that combination of consistency, discipline, and volleyball IQ is what gives her the opportunity to continue growing into an impactful player at the next level.~Theresa@prepdigdakotas   Highlight Link: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2QQP6J">http://www.hudl.com/v/2QQP6J</a>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Case You Missed It</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://prepdig.com/dakotas/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_5b1fa1.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-987083" /></a></figure>

This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: digdakotas30