The 5 Masters of the Middle in 2021
You’re only as good as your defense in most sports and volleyball definitely fits that bill. Having a strong middle to patrol the net is a big asset. Having a middle that can patrol the net and also put the…
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Continue ReadingYou’re only as good as your defense in most sports and volleyball definitely fits that bill.
Having a strong middle to patrol the net is a big asset. Having a middle that can patrol the net and also put the ball down at a high percentage is a luxury.
Here’s five middles from the Class of 2021 that handle themselves as well as anyone.
Aubrey O’Gorman Aubrey O’Gorman 6'3" | MB Lakewood | 2021 State MI , Lakewood/FaR Out
The 6’3” middle has been putting up a big wall at the net for the past three years. This past fall, she put up over 155 blocks for Lakewood while also posting over 500 kills while hitting .424. The Michigan State commit has a great sense for the action and makes it very difficult for opponents to get the ball past her. O’Gorman has great athleticism and versatility for her size. She has led the Vikings to Battle Creek in each of her first three years of high school and has been a consistent standout player for FaR Out during her club career.
Charli Atiemo, Mercy/Michigan Elite
Charli AtiemoTo me, there may not be a more improved player over the last 12 months than Atiemo. She went from being a solid player to an elite-level middle that finishes as well as anyone. In a crowded crop of hitting talent at Mercy, Atiemo managed to put down over 400 kills while hitting over .500 in the 2019 state championship run for the Marlins. She also has a nose for blocking, approaching 100 during the prep season. She continues to develop and take steps forward with Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno and could be a dominant force for Mercy this upcoming fall.
Abby Olin Abby Olin 6'3" | OH Coopersville | 2021 State MI , Coopersville/Inside Out
Olin made it pretty clear that she’s a middle to be reckoned with over the last year. Her stats during the prep season would be hard for any other middle to contend with, as she tallied 519 kills and 173 blocks. Opponents were unable to get the ball past her and finish points. Olin, a Michigan State commit, terminated at a high level on the offensive end and showed an improved serve. She has led Inside Out 18 Mizuno Blue this club season and is shaping up to have a dominant 2020 fall season in Division 2.
Reagan Goeke Reagan Goeke 6'2" | MB Lake Orion | 2021 State MI , Lake Orion/Legacy
[player_tooltip player_id="50303" first="Reagan" last="Goeke"]If you need a timely block, Goeke is someone worth turning to. The 6’1” middle for Lake Orion and Legacy 17-1 Adidas plays well above her height thanks to a long reach. She recorded 178 blocks during the 2019 prep season while guiding the Dragons to a Division 1 semifinal appearance. She also recorded 210 kills while hitting .341. Paired with Kendall Robertson Kendall Robertson 6'2" | MB Lake Orion | 2021 State MI , another 2021 middle standout, Lake Orion has two of the best in the state to patrol the middle.
Ellie Tisko Ellie Tisko 6'0" | MB Mercy | 2021 State MI , Mercy/Michigan Elite
As if having one dominant middle wasn’t enough, Mercy has the luxury of having two. Tisko is a 6’2” athlete that hit .500 in the 2019 prep season while putting down over 350 kills and amassed over 70 blocks. A multi-sport athlete, Tisko has great footwork and smooth movement side-to-side at the net. She’s got a big leap that leads to powerful attacks and a big wall to get over defensively. She is joined with Atiemo at Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno.