Milena Kirchner Milena Kirchner 6'1" | MB/RS Oaks Christian | 2029 CA is learning the middle by reading the game, and it showed.

Before the match, Kirchner said a middle’s job goes beyond kills and blocks to reading the other team and communicating what she sees. I saw excellent footwork and clear communication with her setter. She wants the ball, knows how to place it, and is quick at the net on offense. MaxPreps lists her as Oaks Christian’s season leader in blocks with 52.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Milena Kirchner Milena Kirchner 6'1" | MB/RS Oaks Christian | 2029 CA is earning the middle by reading the game, not just finishing plays.

In April, as a freshman, Kirchner said her strength was finding open spots and hitting deep corners, and she was working on her blocking through private sessions and strength training. Now at the varsity level, her focus has moved to how she processes the game.

Milena’s Voice
“Playing middle at the varsity level has taught me how much faster the pace of the game is. I’ve learned that being a middle isn’t just about getting kills and blocks, but also about reading the other team, and communicating with my teammates about what I’ve seen in order to help make quick decisions when blocking and placing hits. I’ve also learned how important it is to adjust to different situations quickly allowing you to re-position yourself to respond to the other teams tendencies.”

She understands that a middle’s value is information. She reads, communicates what she sees, and adjusts her position, and that carries over to both blocking and shot placement.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Milena Kirchner Milena Kirchner 6'1" | MB/RS Oaks Christian | 2029 CA has an offensive approach built on court awareness and shot placement, consistently identifying open space and using depth to score rather than relying on power alone. She brings intent in her swings and maintains focus on reading both the block and defensive positioning to create scoring opportunities. “I am able to find open spots on the court and hit deep corners,” supports her ability to make calculated offensive decisions.

She is working to improve her blocking through targeted training, using private sessions and strength work to increase explosiveness and refine movement patterns at the net. Her focus on maximizing movement efficiency shows an understanding of how physical development supports blocking consistency.

Her goal is to continue developing into a complete volleyball player while prioritizing being a strong teammate, reflecting growth beyond positional identity.

Off the court, she trains alongside a highly motivated sibling, using that environment to push her own development and maintain accountability.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247