More Standout Middles from 15s and 17s at GPR Bid Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How about another position group that stole the show at The Courts?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday's feature discussed setters as we looked to identify some position groups that stood out among the 15s and 17s at the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament. Now, we're moving into the middle to spotlight some hard-hitting athletes who made the most of their time on the big stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out our instant standout features from the 15s and 17s, as even more elite middle talent is mentioned there. But, our list expands further today!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["256642"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Nebraska Pride gets so many of its top contributors from the Kearney Catholic program, and Carnes is one of those that has to be mentioned. Her physicality at the net was a major matchup advantage for Gold 17s last weekend, both offensively and in the team's blocking schemes. Carnes came into the GPR Bid Tournament having performed well on big stages before, so this latest standout moment was nothing new for the six-foot-three middle.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["212055"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":391207,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"We've covered a few Club Legacy 17 Alpha athletes who have had standout seasons. Briganti has earned that distinction herself, as the steady middle blocker sealed the net during another strong weekend at The Courts. This is one name we'll keep on our radar for the fall as Elkhorn North undergoes a significant transition in its starting lineup.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["349486"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":391217,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Kuhlmann is very quickly elevating her stock among Nebraska's 2026 middle blockers. Whenever [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Black produced good passes, Kuhlmann was a safe bet to get her share of attempts. Better yet, she can terminate in a variety of gaps from a standard quick to a slide behind the setter. Look for this versatility when 15 Black competes at Nationals.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["349416"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Premier 15 Silver put together an incredible season full of late-event drama, but we haven't had a chance to fully address Larsen's contributions to that success. Let's start here. Larsen cranked out some of the most terminal swings that 15 Silver had last weekend, and that was only part of her positive influence. This middle has an instinctive ability to read opposing setters and closed blocks nicely, offering a big boost to Premier's stifling defense.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["349457"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"It's been a joy to cover the Sjuts's multi-faceted role in the [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 15 Black lineup. We've mentioned her extraordinary versatility as both a middle blocker and a backcourt setter. Now, we get to see all those skills rise to the forefront as 15 Black travels to Chicago following a brilliant outing at the GPR Bid Tournament.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["187806"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"What a run for Olds. Her strength on the slide instantly stood out when VCN 17 Black battled through the Show Me Qualifier, and we tabbed her as a player to watch at this bid tournament. It was a solid pick in retrospect, as Olds capped off her hot streak with another gem at The Courts.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["187692"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Holly has proven she can do a little bit of everything for Premier 17 Silver. The versatile attacker has some experience at opposite but showed her full repertoire as a middle blocker at the Great Plains Bid Tournament. Holly is sure to be well-prepared for whatever the fall season might offer her.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":391223,"_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='393560' first='Lauren' last='Burden']","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Papillion-La Vista","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"Banzai VBC 17 Select","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Burden helps build on the growing pipeline between Papio and Banzai. You could argue that the middle blocker position has been the biggest strength in the Banzai gym in recent weeks, and players like Burden further boost that claim. Another impressive weekend at this bid tournament will have Burden primed for another breakout on the high school side.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":391234,"_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"Breanna Van Den Top","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"Sergeant Bluff-Luton","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='429192' first='MVP' last='United'] 15 Red","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Van Den Top is another middle blocker who was identified as a player to watch heading into the bid tournament, and the [program_tooltip program_id='429192' first='MVP' last='United'] athlete delivered on that billing. She's the ideal athlete to have in your M1 spot, and she can adapt to any route the 15 Red offense wants to run. Look out for the Nebraska-Iowa-South Dakota corridor for more emerging talent in the Class of 2026.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453fbc7eaf5c"} /-->