Big Middles Doing Big Things In The Class Of 2029

<!-- 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>We're cruising through our positional breakdowns, and it's time to talk about the big girls. These athletes are more than just big, though. Being big is only part of the process for this group. Here are five kids from around the state that make a REALLY big difference in the class of ‘29.</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-6a89a5890a159"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">They say you can't teach size, which is correct. But you CAN teach that size to move with purpose and athleticism. Lauren IS that kid, and can do anything she wants on the volleyball court in the middle. Transition from defense to offense? Check. Block everything within arm's reach? Yep. It's one thing to be able to do all of the things a middle can do. It's <em>completely</em> another to do those things while also being 6'4”.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["879813"],"_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-6a89a5890a1e0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There's big, and then there's fast. Amy has length in her strides, quickness in her feet, and uses both to beat lumbering middles that might look bigger and stronger than she. With the training she's receiving at PHP, I would not doubt either of those above traits working to her advantage. But combine that training with a high-end understanding of how the game works, and you've got a very athletic middle doing things a lot of middles—-at any size—-just can't do.</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-6a89a5890a253"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For the last few years, Zionsville has produced some of the area's top middles. Quite a few from one position group is not new for Indiana, but middles? The Eagles have their way of producing tall, athletic and elite middles that can be match changers. Ainsley is part of that elite cadre of middles, and has length for days, a high attack touch and an innate ability to make hitters think twice when going against her. She's an up-and-comer in the middle ranks at Circle, and should gain plenty of strength as the years go on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["852261"],"_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-6a89a5890a2a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">No question that Lexi has the length and the dynamic athleticism to play middle OR right side at the next level, but I'm seeing her as a middle for the purposes of this article. With a fast hitting arm, solid transition and length for days, Lexi has the “look” of a D1 middle. Her arms look even longer than you expect, abusing blockers regularly because of her high attack touch. With her training across the Ohio River at KiVA, Miss Hale has all of the potential in the world to continue her rise in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["881023"],"_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-6a89a5890a2e9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The springy nature with which Cailin plays is infectious. She's seeming always ready to hit, is active at the net and has fast feet to get her exactly where she needs to be in a hurry. I'd like to see a bit more leg drive and vertical in her jump, but for now, her M2 abilities are all there, with the potential of adding a bunch of athleticism as the training continues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->