Five Volunteer State 2029 Middle Blockers on the Rise

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Notes: Do you want to get in front of Prep Dig Scouts? This is one big way to do it. The annual Kentucky Exposure Tour in Wilder is Nov. 28. Click on this link to register: </em><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky</a>.<em> For 25 percent off, type </em>ET26Mike25OFF<em> at checkout.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is one thing to have size. Mixing in that size with athleticism separates great middles from good ones. These five have found ways to do that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["811667"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abec5a4e8c4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tidwell (pictured) has great patience at the net. She takes a sound three-step net approach and sends tough one shots to open side lines. Tidwell mixes in nice off shots to the back row. Tidwell creates space for teammates and shoves balls to open, deep corners. Tidwell is also productive in other areas such as serving. Tidwell had 167 kills with a .397 hitting percentage to go with 39 aces, 11 solo blocks, 13 assisted blocks and 70 digs entering the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["813669"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abec1f1e704b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vonderharr has turned into a strong hitter with her consistency and athleticism. Vonderharr takes solid gap shots, getting on top of balls and using a nice wrist snap to mix good power and accuracy into balls. Vonderharr has a nice vertical jump to hit over double blocks. Vonderharr takes A shots and pounds them to the back row. Vonderharr also does a good job mixing in shoves on two shots. She puts balls into seams with precision and taps them to shallow side lines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["959322"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abec8ce32ad7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thornton is a solid three-sport athlete for the Cavaliers. She takes her time and pounds hard crosses to side lines. Thornton takes her time and pounds balls through double blocks. Thornton also smokes balls to open corners. She puts over balls with a nice wrist snap, leading to a solid downward trajectory. Thornton is not easy to dig up when she has great spacing away from the net. Thornton also uses her off (left) hand to tip balls over double blocks if defensive specialists are playing back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["827771"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abecde2dee41"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Forbess has given the Rebels a nice option in the middle and pins. Forbess gets up with a nice vertical jump and paints back lines. Forbess pounds balls to different zones on ones and places overpassed balls away from opponents. Forbess tips to open areas of the court and uses her off (left) hand to tip balls to open, shallow six zones. Forbess continues to swing even after initial hits do not go down. Forbess is also a sound blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1047540"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abed2e8d5f5b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown is one of the most underrated hitters in the state. She takes her time and aggressively sends balls to open spots on the court when she has great space away from the net. Brown mixes in nice roll shots to different zones on the court. She even tips over blocks. Brown times up her jumps and aggressively rejects balls coming across the net. Brown forms sound double blocks with teammates. Brown also sends nice float serves to corners on her jump serves. Brown ranks in the top 10 in Division I-A with a .315 hitting percentage, 41 solo blocks and 23 assisted blocks. A quicker wrist snap is a good next step for Brown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for two and a half years and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigkentucky/#">prepdigkentucky</a>, @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigtennessee/#">prepdigtennessee</a>&nbsp;or @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigoh/#">prepdigoh</a>&nbsp;on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy, @PrepDigTN or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky, Tennessee or Ohio needs coverage or even have feedback on the Kentucky or Tennessee rankings, please email Mike at michaelgraham@prepdig.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount on yearly subscriptions, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->