GameChangers: Middle Blockers Dominate at #PDTheFinale
This content series is sponsored by GameChanger – The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Dig.
It always seems like one position group stands out at every event I cover. At the Prep Dig Finale in Pontiac, that distinction could go to the middle blockers.
I’ve already covered a few dominant middle blockers in my all-tournament picks from this weekend. This feature will expand our scope even more as more middle blockers get time in the spotlight today, and we’ll have some good variety here, too.
Meet a few more middles who were GameChangers in our final Prep Dig Circuit event of the year.
Ava Decker – 5’11 MB – Krush VBC 16 National
Decker makes an instant impact when she rotates to the frontcourt. Her strong blocking presence guided Krush to the 16s Gold bracket, and that’s not the only way Decker contributed, either. This middle blocker’s strong offense behind the setter was a big boost to 16 National’s offense in two-hitter rotations. Decker’s hard work in transition and quickness off one foot made her a go-to attacker whenever her team made a positive first contact.
Love watching Ava Decker go to work in the middle for @krushvbc 16 National.
Strong block at the net, and her offense behind the setter makes her an ideal M1. #PDTheFinale pic.x.com/UUlrQm9KIP
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) June 11, 2022
Madison Moegerle – 5’10 MB – AVC CLE Rox 17 Blue
You know I won’t pass up the opportunity to talk about a six-rotation middle blocker. They don’t come around often. Moegerle brought some of the most power and heat we saw from any middle blocker at this event, but her influence doesn’t end when she rotates out of the frontcourt. She stayed in the back row to pass and play defense for 17 Blue, a skill you almost never get to see from a middle blocker. That’s how to be a GameChanger.
We live for six-rotation middles.
Madison Moegerle getting it done in the frontcourt and in backcourt serve receive for @avcvolleyball 17 Blue. #PDTheFinale pic.x.com/6Zdmq5d09J
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) June 10, 2022
Averie Bruce – 6’1 MB – A2 17 Green
Bruce is the kind of player you want anchoring your defense at the net. She sealed blocks well at the Finale and also brought some nice attacks on the quick throughout the weekend. A2 has a vast collection of frontcourt players to watch heading into the future, and Bruce has certainly been added to my list.
Emma Blankenship – 5’10 MB – ROCKC 16-1
I already mentioned one RockCity 16-1 middle blocker in my all-tournament feature, but I’d be remiss not to highlight the work Blankenship did for her championship-winning squad. Serving is not a skill often discussed with middle blockers, but Blankenship went on an absolute tear behind the line in the 16s championship match. Her skills translate well to the frontcourt, too, with Blankenship providing plenty of highlight moments when attacking in front of the setter.
Emma Zsiros – 5’10 MB – AVC CLE Rox 15 White
Here’s another middle blocker who had an important role in a championship run in Pontiac. Zsiros, who has some prep experience as an outside hitter, showed her versatility this weekend as a shutdown middle for 15 White. Her pin-to-pin quickness was on full display at the Finale, and she has the kind of attacking mindset that embodies her whole AVC team.
Annalise Parker – 6’0 MB – TeamD 16-Red
TeamD did not shy away from showing off its middle blocker talent on the Prep Dig Circuit. Parker’s athleticism shined over the weekend, as she frequently went over the block against opposing defenses. Like some of the other middles we’ve discussed here, Parker can also step behind the service line and make some big plays from the end line.
Lila Krall – 5’10 MB – Premier 15 Trabuco
This physical Premier middle got plenty of opportunities to score at The Finale, and she usually found a way to put the ball down. In addition to her potent offense, Krall brought a block touch height that rivaled almost any other 15s player in the Pontiac event. The depth that Premier has at this position is now very apparent.
