2023 Breakdown: Kansas and Missouri’s Rising Middles
We’ve seen standout setters and top-tier hitters. Now, our look at Kansas and Missouri’s 2023s focuses on the middle blocker spot. There are several different words that can encompass the middle talent in this region, but perhaps “athletic” captures it…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve seen standout setters and top-tier hitters. Now, our look at Kansas and Missouri’s 2023s focuses on the middle blocker spot.
There are several different words that can encompass the middle talent in this region, but perhaps “athletic” captures it best. I’ve seen middles from this region completely take over matches against national competition. Sometimes a huge stuff block can turn around a match, and the middle blockers on this feature are capable of delivering just that. They’re also major threats offensively, with many possessing well-developed skills off both one and two feet.
Let’s embrace the stalwarts in the middle.
The Breakdown
Our top-ranked middle blocker in Missouri is Calissa Minatee Calissa Minatee 6'0" | MB North Kansas City | 2023 State #25 Nation MO , and she’s probably a good starting point for this breakdown. This North Kansas City product has experience on both pins in high school competition. When Minatee takes the floor for Dynasty, though, she is a game-wrecking middle blocker. Her potential was on full display as she produced multiple eye-popping moments at NLQ in Omaha. With massive roofs and floor-denting kills, Minatee knows how to steal the show.
The top of our Kansas rankings, meanwhile, is anchored by two middle blockers from the same high school. Aubrey Duncan Aubrey Duncan 6'0" | MB Free State | 2023 State KS and Sawyer Thomsen Sawyer Thomsen 6'2" | MB Free State | 2023 State #145 Nation KS present a long, intimidating middle pair for Lawrence Free State. Both are incredibly proficient in front of the setter and put up an imposing block. These are two talented representatives of Kansas volleyball outside of the KC metro.
How about a quick trip to St. Louis? Elise Paul Elise Paul 6'0" | MB Lutheran South | 2023 State MO has been a valuable asset in the middle for her High Performance team. She’s a player who always works hard in transition to be an option for her setter. Put the ball in her area, and Paul will find a way to terminate.
I can’t go without giving a shoutout to Layne Witherspoon Layne Witherspoon 6'0" | MB Lafayette | 2023 State MO and give recognition to the work she has done for Rockwood Thunder this season. Witherspoon is exactly the kind of middle blocker you want in your two-hitter rotations. Her slide attacks help open up the offense and are a huge challenge for opposing blockers.
Now, let’s talk about Jacy Thomasson Jacy Thomasson 5'11" | MB Riverton | 2023 State KS for a moment. There are few high school teams in America that lean on a middle blocker more than Riverton did with Thomasson last season. This middle-outside hitter hybrid tallied 517 kills on a whopping 1098 attempts last season. Lobbing the ball in the middle of the net for Thomasson to crush it was a recipe for success. What an exciting talent.
I have plenty more scouting reports to gather on middles from these two states. Expect more rising talent, like some of the names below, to get recognition in the near future.
Other Names to Know
Avery Lowe Avery Lowe 6'2" | MB Maize South | 2023 State KS – 6’2 MB – Air Capital Aces
McKenzie Fairchild McKenzie Fairchild 5'10" | MB Andale | 2023 State KS – 5’10 MB – Andale HS
Aisha Aiono Aisha Aiono 6'3" | MB Liberty | 2023 State MO – 6’3 MB – MAVS 816
Brooklyn Young Brooklyn Young 6'0" | MB Liberty | 2023 State MO – 6’0 MB – Dynasty