GameChangers: Middle Blocker Standouts from Top 250 KS/MO Expo

Fogel has more than just the size and lateral quickness to be a great middle blocker. She also stood out for her vocal presence and leadership while playing next to a large group of unfamiliar athletes. That kind of maturity is rare, especially from a freshman. Keep tabs on Fogel when she represents MAVS KC this spring.

Sims can play a lot of different positions, and that kind of versatility is no surprise for an athlete who represents MAVS. While this freshman is listed as an outside hitter, Sims was particularly effective hitting middle quicks during individual drills. We’ll see what the future holds!

Bishton checks all the boxes for a middle blocker. She’s physical, jumps well, and is comfortable attacking off one foot behind the setter. All of these traits came into focus while Bishton dominated in six-on-six action Sunday morning.

Blacklock really started to find her groove with Northland Christian this fall, where she notched almost 200 kills and over a block per set. Her length was a major asset as she competed in team drills and generated plenty of positive block touches for her side of the net.

Jacobs brings the kind of high-level club experience that few players can match. She played up on Dynasty ‘ last=”]’ last=”]’s 16 Black squad last year and sparred with some of the best athletes in the nation. Her positive momentum continued by reminding us of her frontcourt strength at Top 250.

Wicker is listed as a right-side hitter on our entry list, but the versatile Dynasty ‘ last=”]’ last=”] athlete showed her prowess in the middle at our showcase. She was a consistent go-to attacker in many of the team drills at our expo and put away ball in a variety of gaps along the net.

It didn’t take long for Afonja to make her mark at this event. The Baldwin middle blocker has been a steady .300+ hitter throughout her career, and it’s easy to see why. Afonja puts so much heat behind her swings and opens up her approach to hit around any block. This is the definition of an instant standout.

Among the many talented middle blockers at this event, few could terminate off of one foot like Jaccard. The Power ‘ last=”]’] athlete got in a great rhythm attacking behind the setter, even when she was paired up with some unfamiliar faces at that setter spot. That’s a true indicator of a well-rounded, adaptable middle blocker.

You’ll want to keep an eye on Salamasina in the upcoming club season. In fact, you may have already seen her compete on some of the biggest club stages in the Midwest if you paid attention to this year’s 15 Open gauntlet. Salamasina is a long, dynamic middle blocker who can hammer away on the slide or take a traditional two-footed takeoff on the right pin. I’m thrilled to see what 16s action has in store for this 2025 standout.

Before heading to last weekend’s Top 250 Expo, Pocius polished off an incredibly impressive debut season with Marquette High School in Chesterfield, MO. She tallied over a block per set in her freshman campaign and added well over 100 kills on better than .200 hitting. After watching Pocius compete in this environment, there’s little doubt that she’s another emerging impact player in the region.