Bombs in the Middle at Summerfest: 16 Open
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Like the temperatures outside, the volleyball is getting HOT! Columbus was on fire this weekend with some of the best teams in country coming together for one last tune up before we hit the road for nationals! Not only is…
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Continue ReadingLike the temperatures outside, the volleyball is getting HOT!
Columbus was on fire this weekend with some of the best teams in country coming together for one last tune up before we hit the road for nationals!
Not only is nationals around the corner for this 16s group, but recruiting opens up! This was a division you did NOT want to miss this weekend. Especially with what they had cookin’ in the middle.
Here are some of the best middle blockers from Summerfest!
Julia Hunt Julia Hunt 6'1" | MB Holy Cross (Covington) | 2024 State #11 Nation KY – 6’2 MB – NKYVC
NKYVC nearly took home the Summerfest title going undefeated until the title game, a huge thanks to this was to Julia Hunt Julia Hunt 6'1" | MB Holy Cross (Covington) | 2024 State #11 Nation KY . She’s a physical presence at the net and was a nightmare to slow down on the weekend. Her block is tough and she can crush just about any set you give her.
Ryla Jones Ryla Jones 6'4" | MB Flint Hill | 2024 State #80 Nation VA – 6’3 MB – Metro
If you want to watch a squad full of physicality and power, you need to watch Metro and Ryla Jones Ryla Jones 6'4" | MB Flint Hill | 2024 State #80 Nation VA . One of the heaviest arms you’ll see in the gym, Jones can take all the air out of a ball. Let’s not get started on her block either, when she’s in the zone, there’s not a ball coming on her side of the net.
Ryla Jones (Metro) getting the stuff over Erickson 🚨 #JVA #SummerFest pic.twitter.com/vyJ1pZpHgg
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) June 5, 2022
Harlan Wyche Harlan Wyche 5'11" | MB South Lakes | 2024 State VA – 5’10 MB – Paramount
I wasn’t sure what to expect to see this one in the middle, given her size. But Harlan Wyche Harlan Wyche 5'11" | MB South Lakes | 2024 State VA has some HOPS! Not only can she jump out of the gym, but she can bring the hammer down on the ball. Wyche has a lot of power behind her swings and has a great vision for the court with her placement.
Kiylah Presley Kiylah Presley 6'0" | OH Bishop McNamara | 2024 State #114 Nation VA – 6’1 MB – Paramount
Out goes Wyche and incomes Kiylah Presley Kiylah Presley 6'0" | OH Bishop McNamara | 2024 State #114 Nation VA , no room to breathe. Presley has the same insane hops as her fellow teammates and she is as physical and terminal as they come. Presley was a big time blocker for Paramount this weekend and proved to score at a ridiculous level.
Ellie Fles Ellie Fles 6'0" | MB South Christian | 2024 State MI – 6’1 MB – FaR Out
This middle from FaR Out has not been high on my radar from my previous watches, but Ellie Fles Ellie Fles 6'0" | MB South Christian | 2024 State MI made a big impression on me this weekend. Time and time again, I saw Fles come up huge with her blocking and what seems to be a very fluid attack in the gap or on the slide.
Ellie Fles had herself a nice Sunday for FaR Out! pic.twitter.com/68jBGmKVW9
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) June 5, 2022
Kendall Hopewell Kendall Hopewell 6'1" | MB Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #193 Nation MI – 6’0 MB – FaR Out
I could watch Kendall Hopewell Kendall Hopewell 6'1" | MB Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #193 Nation MI play all day long! In the middle, she’s a shut down blocker and fast twitched hammer. But she can do so much more than that. FaR Out has developed a way for Hopewell to be involved in the offense, even in the toughest of out of system scenarios and Hopewell delivers every time.
Alec Rothe Alec Rothe 6'3" | MB Dublin Scioto | 2024 State #14 Nation OH – 6’3 OH/MB – EliteVBTC
Another middle who can do it all, Alec Rothe Alec Rothe 6'3" | MB Dublin Scioto | 2024 State #14 Nation OH can not be taken off the court, she gives way too much. Her offense at the net and out of the pipe is huge for EliteVBTC. But her blocking is so good and so tough to get through, you can’t take her out of the middle.
Down 24-19? ✅
Come all the way back to take it 26-24 and win on a stuff block?!✅✅✅✅✅✅ @AlecRothe pic.twitter.com/6PxlPnT29T— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) June 5, 2022
Ava Kanj Ava Kanj 6'3" | MB Solon | 2024 State OH – 6’2 MB – Maverick
Ava Kanj Ava Kanj 6'3" | MB Solon | 2024 State OH made a big impression when I saw her at Can Am and not only did she continue to impress, but a few of her teammates did as well. Kanj is one tough block to contend with. With a large wingspan and a good jump, she can flip the game upside down with her net defense.
Ella Boersema Ella Boersema 6'2" | MB Churubusco | 2024 State #178 Nation IN – 6’2 MB – Team Pineapple
Team Pineapple is not a team you want to see across the net. Big hitters and scrappy defense, Ella Boersema Ella Boersema 6'2" | MB Churubusco | 2024 State #178 Nation IN holds it down in the middle. She’s a big presence at the net with an imposing block and a gnarly slide play, if she doesn’t get you one way, she will the other.
Autumn Holmes – 6’2 MB – K2
I’ll be keeping tabs on this middle for now on, because WOW. Autumn Holmes is what I think anyone would want in the middle, she attacks the ball with a lot of speed and velocity and an excellent blocker. Holmes has one of the best slide attacks I have seen out of this group, something I could watch over and over.
Mallory Bohl Mallory Bohl 6'3" | MB Saline | 2024 State #102 Nation MI – 6’3 MB – Legacy
This phone will be ringing off of the hook come June 15th and deservedly so. For as long as I have been watching Mallory Bohl Mallory Bohl 6'3" | MB Saline | 2024 State #102 Nation MI , she’s yet to give a lack luster performance. Her block is one of the toughest in her class and her attacking continues to develop, deadlier and deadlier.
Aleicea Watson – 5’9 MB – KIVA
Her height could possibly fool some people, but then you watch her play and it’s over. Aleicea Watson may be undersized for her position, but she showed to have no problem going toe-to-toe with her 6’0+ counterparts this weekend. Watson has great hops and has a great IQ for her position, allowing her to score at a high level.
Alecea Watson is HUGE in the middle!!!! 🙌🏽 🙌🏽 #JVA #SummerFest pic.twitter.com/bti20MUip7
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) June 5, 2022