Middles, Middles, Middles; 23s That Should Be On Your Radar
Each class has its strength. We talked about our 21s and 22s already, but what about our 23s? Indiana’s strength is clearly in its middles, and it shows. Here are five Hoosier MBs you should be aware of. Gabby Dean…
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Continue ReadingEach class has its strength. We talked about our 21s and 22s already, but what about our 23s? Indiana’s strength is clearly in its middles, and it shows. Here are five Hoosier MBs you should be aware of.
Gabby Dean Gabby Dean 6'5" | MB Columbus East | 2023 State #53 Nation IN , 6-4, Columbus East, Team Indiana, Prep Dig #3
Like the pin attackers mentioned earlier this week, the middles each have their strength. I should note; there are five different clubs mentioned here for the five recruits listed, but Gabby clearly sets herself apart from the others on size alone. However, she’s not just a lumbering middle. She’s fast enough to play up a year (she played on TI’s 16-1s), and she terminates with her attack AND her block. The ball simply goes to the floor when she makes contact. Period. Looking forward to making a trip down to Columbus to further my evaluation.
Mya Ayro Mya Ayro 6'0" | OH Greenwood | 2023 State #189 Nation IN , 5-11, Greenwood, Academy, Prep Dig #4
Bottom line: Mya is the only one on this list that came, quite literally, from nowhere. Greenwood is NOT considered a volleyball school. Basketball and football? Sure. But volleyball? Not so much. This is what makes Mya that much more attractive as a recruit. She’s working with a blank slate, making her bad habits a much smaller number than her counterparts on this list. She’s inching towards ten feet, and her fluidity and strength have her learning the game at a much faster pace than most. She’s the shortest on this list, but certainly doesn’t play that way. I also like her court vision to be able to know when to hammer and know when to place. Very smart, very strong, and is only getting better with time.
Emily Waddell Emily Waddell 6'0" | MB Carmel | 2023 State #137 Nation IN , 6-0, Carmel, Circle City, Prep Dig #5
In front, behind, and apart from the setter. Emily can hit any tempo ball off of two feet and one foot in a standard offense. Give her the ball, and the ball hits the floor. Her coaches this past season, Kristine Deem (HS) and Lori Janssen (club) are two of the best trainers in the state, and her springy abilities make her the fastest, in my humble opinion, on this list. Another kid that is only getting better with time. I hope I get a chance to see this one play in the fall as well—Hamilton County is FILLED with great ball.
Ava Vickers Ava Vickers 6'0" | MB Fishers | 2023 State #107 Nation IN , 6-0, Fishers, Munciana, Prep Dig #8
Speaking of great ball in Hamilton County, add Miss Vickers to this list. Fast offenses are Munciana’s specialty, and Ava is no exception. The faster, the better for Ava. Munciana has never had a lot of size at the younger age groups, so one must make up for it with speed and volleyball IQ to be successful. Now, let’s hope that success leads to knocking off state finalist HSE in their own sectional.
Cali Cummings Cali Cummings 6'1" | MB Seymour | 2023 State IN , 6-0, Seymour, Union, Prep Dig #10
Did I mention fast and volleyball IQ? Union is a smaller version of the Munciana way, and in some cases, smarter. Cali is one of the smartest middles there are, and she scores with the best of them because of her IQ. If the middle across from her is bigger, she goes fast to beat them. If the middle across from her is as fast as she is, she uses smarts to score points. Coming from two successful programs, her training is through the roof, and hopefully this past club season, as short as it was, helped Miss Cummings lock down a starting spot on a Seymour squad that can compete with the best in the southern half of the state.