2025 Middles Still Available After Qualifier Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Qualifiers are done, as are the GJNC 18s in Baltimore. Most are doing "warm-up" tournaments to prep for either AAUs in Florida in June or GJNCs in late June/early July in Las Vegas. The kids mentioned below still have to find a place to play, and plenty of talent to share with their potential new homes in the fall of '25. Here are five athletes from five different clubs that can play middle for a number of potential schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='172316' first='Ava' last='Gutt'], 5-11, Hamilton Southeastern, Boiler Juniors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Available as either a right side or a middle, Ava is a bigger-than-she-looks and physical attacker. Her long arms give the appearance of being well over six feet, and her attack touch is just as high. I like the consistent training she's received from Boiler Juniors and the perennially winning high school program she comes from.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='192113' first='Ava' last='Tindall'], 6-0, Homestead, Munciana</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong and consistent M2 (with a sprinkling of attacking off of one foot) is what you can expect from Miss Tindall. Middles in Indiana are traditionally this size, but not normally with the strong upper body that Ava has. Her attacks are high and hard, she plays with a high volleyball IQ (thank you, Munciana training), and has a high motor regardless of the score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='172317' first='Ryleigh' last='Hamilton'], 5-11, Southport, Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been a few seasons since we've had a chance to talk about high-level play from attackers at Southport. Ryleigh is a breath of fresh air, and she plays like a natural in the M1 position. Her quick transition in front of the setter needs some fine-tuning, but with her long strides and high attack touch, it's only a matter of time and training before she's the complete package. Her ability to defend from pin-to-pin is also above-average for middles in this class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ryane Spoonemore, 5-11, Tri-West, Circle City</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strong and skilled, Miss Spoonemore is more of a hybrid middle than any other on this list. She can chase a ball on a slide behind the setter with the same fast transition as one in front of the setter, hitting all angles in the process. She also plays bigger than her frame, as maximizes her entire length and jumping ability to defend from pin to pin. Her upper body strength is apparent in her blocking---her strong shoulders and disciplined block make things difficult for opposing hitters regularly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='184909' first='Kaitlyn' last='Oakley'], 5-11, North Posey, Metro</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even though her path might be as a right side in her collegiate future, she's doing just fine in the middle, thankyouverymuch. An M2 for her 17-1 squad at Metro, Kaitlyn is long and lean and gets up quickly. I'd like to see a little more width in her block to take up more space, but for now, her rise is directly related to the work she's done thus far in her career. She also has a <em>very</em> high attack point---something I haven't seen from middles at Metro in some time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->