Class 5 – 2027 Top Returning Middles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='549463' first='Emory' last='Freesmeier'] – 6'0" – Westminster Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The future is bright for Westminster, and Emory came into the program at the right time for her to make a statement. An aggressive middle who's quick off the ground has excellent footwork to the pins and power to boot. She will develop into a fantastic middle and return after finishing with 128 kills and 51 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489915' first='Hannah' last='Garrett'] – 6'0" – Eureka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eureka has a starting freshman every year, and last year was no different. Hannah was a great addition, finishing with 106 and a team-leading 54 blocks. A big, strong blocker with excellent penetration, closes to the pins very well. She'll go down as another tremendous middle from Eureka.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lily Witzel – 5'9" – Cor Jesu Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lily only played in 23 sets for 18 kills, but her ability goes way higher than those stats. She is another bouncy middle and has a tremendous swing on her. The Chargers will need her firepower to help replace the team's three top attackers lost to graduation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='485627' first='Sienna' last='Roth'] – 6'3" – Kirkwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched the Pioneers play last year and see the potential to become a dominating force in the middle for Sienna. She finished her first season as the team leader in blocks with 73 to go along with her 94 kills. You can't teach height. Sienna will become a tremendous asset to the Kirkwood program and at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816093' first='London' last='Shepherd'] – 5'8" – Carthage</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>London made her presence known defensively last year, leading her team in blocks with 47 and adding 90 kills. She is a springy middle who's undersized but uses her volleyball IQ to take advantage of the more giant blocks. Move her outside, and you will get a terminating pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->