Ava Blackburn Ava Blackburn 5'9" | MB/RS Valley | 2028 IA felt like one of the tougher middles to defend all weekend. Just when it looked like opponents had her figured out, she found another way to score. She mixed tempos well and stayed active offensively throughout matches. What caught my eye was how often teams had to account for where she was before they could focus on anyone else. That kind of attention says a lot. Defensively, she was just as engaged, reading hitters and making life uncomfortable at the net. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas

I first scouted Blackburn competing at the 2025 Northern Lights National Qualifier. She impressed and was one whose volleyball development I wanted to track moving forward. She played a bit in the state semifinals for West Des Moines Valley, but it was tough to tell how much progress she’d made. Well, I got an answer when seeing her with PowerPlex at the 2026 Mizuno Midwest JVA Challenge during the first weekend of May in Des Moines. Blackburn had sharpened her overall set of skills and become more powerful. The latter showed up in a heavier swing on the attack and as explosion off of the court whether trying to put the ball down or block it. Athleticism and leaping ability lead to success in the middle of the net. They also would work should she receive reps at the pins. Blackburn is poised for a breakout with the Tigers in the fall.