Midsized High School Preview: Players To Watch, Part Three

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!   In our final installment of the midsized high school players to watch preview, we get to larger schools and, by extension, higher level players and schools. Some of these schools can be seen in 2A, some will be dabbling their toes into the deep end—-with 3A eligibility in October and November. How will they stack up? Here's a few athletes to keep an eye on that will try to answer that question single-handedly.    After an epic season with the Samurai this past club season, Ja'Maria is easily the highest leaper and best athlete available in the class of 2027. Able to outjump and outwork her opposing blockers, Ja'Maria uses her talent and athleticism to her advantage—-a nice departure from the norm from middles here in Indiana. Yes, her size is a little small for this position, but that jumping ability and flat-out transition speed can defeat most blocks she's going against, which are always bigger. I'll take this kid over a lumbering big kid that isn't as fast or as strong.     Another Burris kid, this time the director of the Owl offense. With high hands, fast feet and a higher-than-average volleyball IQ, Miss Pierce is a solid find for the setting position in the class of ‘27. Defensively, she's more than able to play her position well, as opposed to some bigger setters that release too early to be effective on floor defense. As a setter, finding the right hitter in the right situation regardless of where the ball is passed is her calling card, and is right more often than not.     Ella is a big, physical and consistent outside attacker that Morehead State pounced on when needing exactly that in the recruiting class of ‘27. Benton Central isn't exactly known for their size, so Ella's presence is intimidating, to say the least, against other 2A schools in the Lafayette area and beyond. With a high-and-hard mentality, a relentless motor and a volleyball IQ that is off the charts, Benton Central has a serious chance of competing for a state title this fall because of Ella's play.     Mckenna is an efficient, primary-passing outside that will be a major upgrade at the position at D2 University of Indianapolis. The perennially competitive Greyhounds will be receiving a bulldog of a player from a family of volleyballers—-tough, consistent, strong and smart. This version of the Yadon clan will be leaned on heavily this fall to get that long-awaited state-shaped trophy in November.     Easily the best player at a smaller-than-average school, Shania's ball control is on display in the spring while being a primary-passing, six-rotation attacker in the fall. Hitting a consistently heavy ball and being in possession of a Type-A personality, Miss Rhamy is a relentless workhorse of a player that celebrates none of her own successes until a trophy is raised. That relentless nature, coupled with one of the best all-around skill sets in the state, earned her a commitment to SEC powerhouse Kentucky.     The defending 2A champs have a great group of youngsters coming up to defend the title, and Joslyn is a major part of that reload. Her ability to do a little of everything—-from pass and attack to running an offense—-will be relied upon early and often for one of the tougher schedules in all of southwestern Indiana. Yes, she's not quite the biggest in stature, but she more than makes up for it in skill set, work ethic and quickness that can take opponents by surprise when not prepared.

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!