A 6-6 and 6-4 player on the same squad give the coaches the option to always have size on the front row and the Bruins did that this past season. Liening is tough when the sets are on. She helps control the net with size and athleticism in many ways including tipping balls in the air for defensive specialists to pick up easier. Liening hopes to get in sync with a different setter this fall to keep putting pressure on opponents with quicks. Liening also does a great job forming double blocks. Liening had 234 kills, 40 solo blocks and 76 assisted blocks helping Ballard win a school record 29 games, win the 28th District crown for the first time in four years and make it to the region semifinals for the first time in the same time period.

Ava Liening Ava Liening 6'4" | MB Ballard | 2026 State KY emerged as a standout player, contributing significantly to the Bruins’ defensive and offensive efforts. Her solid blocking skills and consistent play helped maintain the team’s stability, even in tough competition. Liening’s reliability and resilience were crucial in keeping the team competitive and in high spirits during challenging matches.

Liening smacked down a number of balls using her size. She helped control the net in games two through four. Liening and Sanders are in such sync with quicks they are a thing of beauty to watch. Liening hits them so hard that solid defenders would even have a hard time digging them up if they are in the right position. She also had several key blocks in the win.

Junior middle blocker Ava Liening Ava Liening 6'4" | MB Ballard | 2026 State KY has been also impressed her opponents with 11 kills and 6 blocks in a recent win. She is a go too for her setter and is a great wall at the net.

Liening came around in a big way for the Bruins last year as a force for the net and has had an outstanding preseason so far. She helped the Bruins go 7-1 reaching the quarterfinals in the final bracket of the championship flight at the Bluegrass Games in July. She has an outstanding slide step placing balls a number of places and has great timing on her blocks. She hits from the middle and the pins and is not afraid to tip balls to make sure they go through and off blockers. Liening also has a serve that can paint the back line.

Liening came into her own last season as a force at the net for the Bruins and only hopes to expand her game this fall. Liening has an excellent slide step placing balls a number of different spots on the court and solid timing on her blocks. Liening can hit balls a number of different places from the middle and the pins. Liening is not afraid to throw in some tips and take some power off balls to make sure they go through and off blockers. Liening also has a deceptive serve near the line.