<p>Our new rankings are out, and there is a new and improved list of middles that can, and will, make a difference at the next level in the fall of ’23. Here are five middles you should know going into club season.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85897" first="Emily" last="Waddell"], 6-0, Circle City, Carmel</strong></p>
<p>Miss Waddell is one of many that can play either the M1 or M2 spot, depending on your needs. Need someone that transitions quickly, gets up and over or around blocks and can defend from pin to pin? Emily’s your girl. How about stuff behind the setter that she can go up and get? Yep, that too. Attacking at almost a ten-foot level, she’s just going to get stronger from here. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85826" first="Ava" last="Vickers"], 6-0, Munciana, Fishers</strong></p>
<p>Hmmmm, let me see.....looking for an explosive middle, All-State honoree, AAU national champion and jump-touching at or above ten feet? Oh, look! It’s Ava! She is, once again, on the 18-1 roster at Munciana, and should be a dynamic piece to repeating as national champion again this season. So fast, can go off of one foot explosively, and is relentless. What more do you need?</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85906" first="Cadence" last="Ast"], 6-2, Circle City, Bloomington South</strong></p>
<p>It is unfortunate that Cadence has the bulk of her high school career around kids that might not be as well-trained as she. Nevertheless, Miss Ast is an all-go, no-quit middle that would be best in the M2 position off of two feet. Her length makes her appear to be taller than 6-2, and can double as a right side when needed. Size and training abound with this athlete.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="99589" first="Jessica" last="Pickett"], 6-4, Academy, Carmel</strong></p>
<p>Yes, another Carmel middle. But hear me out. Where Emily (listed above) beats teams with speed and jumping ability, Jessica owns the middle with strength and length. You can’t teach height or size, and Miss Pickett shows off plenty of both. Pin-to-pin defense seems easier for her because of her length, and she can power through any block with her heavy arm.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85911" first="Libby" last="Dippold"], 5-11, Union, Columbus East</strong></p>
<p>The "other" middle for the Olympians, Miss Dippold has improved dramatically since she first started playing. Long and lean, Libby can go behind or in front of the setter, and has the length to defend pin-to-pin with the best of them. No, she doesn’t have the height of the other four on this list. No matter; she uses her length and stride to make up ground on defense, and transitions quickly to get that whip of an arm through the attacking zone. And she’s getting stronger by the match. She’ll be a steal for someone in the fall of ’23.</p>
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