WATCH LIST - MIDDLE BLOCKERS

 Key statistics: 358 kills, .418 hitting pct., 43 aces, 64 blocks, 23 assists, 77 digs, All-state, all-state tournament team, AVCA phenom list

Comment: Jaycee Bossert will be a senior this year. She will be a middle blocker for the third season in a row and also get some time on the back row for us this year to utilize her back row attack. Jaycee is a powerhouse for us at the net. She is aggressive, smart, and patient at the net. She can put the ball away from any position on the floor and is very versatile in serve-receive. We are usually looking to feed her the ball and side out. She is our strongest blocker as well. She is pretty good at reading the setters/hitters and is always going to attempt to get where she needs to be and close the block. She has been working on her defense and serve-receive and will see more time on the back row this year. We have started utilizing her back row attack to get us out of serve-receive and she has stepped up and done an awesome job at giving us another offensive option. She will make hustle plays and dive on the floor even from the middle and that is what makes her stand out in my opinion. She is not afraid to dive on the floor, chase down a ball, or do whatever it takes to keep the play alive. She has a solid serve and has been growing in her role as a leader this summer.” — Haskell Harmony Grove head coach Bailey Korte

 Key statistics: 270 kills, .319 hitting pct., 77 total blocks

Comment: “Laney competes with confidence and toughness at every point. She is an explosive middle with a high volleyball IQ. Her leadership and consistency help stabilize our team in critical moments. Laney is highly driven, making her a dynamic threat on offense and defense. She is always attacking with speed and efficiency, and she has an innate ability to read and create constant pressure on opponents.” — Farmington head coach Kylie Moad

 Key statistics: 347 kills, 50 blocks, 224 digs, 24 aces, Alabama A&M commitment, all-state tournament team, all-state, AVCA Phenom List, AVCA All-Region

Comment: Team captain this season, Kendall Brown is our high-flying outside hitter that plays all six rotations.  Kendall led our team last year in Kills with 347, let me remind you that we had 4 players with 100+ kills, 3 of which had 200+ kills. Kendall brings a certain finesse and tons of power with her style of play. She brings the heat all while playing with a steady head. Kendall has put several dents in our gym floor with the power of her arm swing and the speed of her attack. She is a fierce competitor that refuses to lose and brings that mentality to practice everyday.  There is no mistaking why this young lady is going D1.” — Marion head coach Lisa Beasley

 Key statistics:  116 kills, 77 blocks, .248 hitting pct., all-conference, Conway Lady Cat Invitational all-tournament team, Alabama commitment

Comment: “Makylah Davis will be a weapon this year on offense and defense. Throughout off-season she has become more explosive and has improved her ability at reading setters and hitters. She's also just a great teammate, brings everyone together, and always competes hard!” — Little Rock Central head coach Markie Alberius

 Key statistics: 211 kills, .335 hitting pct., 104 blocks

Comment: “Izzie is entering her third year as a varsity middle.  She has proven herself to be powerful at the net, terminating with a hard-hit ball or with a sneaky tip and putting up a decisive block.  She is a versatile and smart player.  She has been working hard in the offseason to continue to be a difference maker at the net for us.” — Cabot head coach Anna Robertson

Key statistics: 84 kills, .282 hitting pct., 73 blocks (second-best single-season total at Van Buren), 21 aces

Comment: “We are really excited to have Carley back this season. Last year she was one of our starting middles and was a blocking machine, landing herself in our record books. (second for number of blocks in a season, fourth for total blocks in a career) She has taken a big leap in her offensive game and we’re excited to see her show out!” — Van Buren had coach Whitney Adams

 Key statistics: Class 4A state tournament MVP, 34 aces, 241 kills, .290 efficiency

Comment: “Sophie is a dynamic middle with good court awareness and just finds a way to be effective. She’s a player they have to dedicate to, which opens our pins up for 1-on-1 attacking.” — Pulaski Academy head coach Jason Lambert.

Key statistics; 261 kills, 363 hitting percentage, 86 blocks. all-state, George Mason commitment

Comment: “Kenzy Hogue enters her junior season bringing experience, energy and consistency to our lineup. She's a steady presence on the court and someone we know we can count on every match.” — Fayetteville head coach Kele Luigs

 Key statistics: 148 kills, 75 blocks, 62 digs

Comment: “Dani, as we call her, is a force to be reckoned with at the net. She has impeccable timing and can read the ball well. Dani had the game of her life at the state finals last year. I'm excited to see what she brings to the table this year as a senior leader.” — Mansfield head coach Brandi Heydenreich

Key statistics: 265 kills, .304 hitting pct., 19 aces, 30 blocks, 77 digs, 16 assists, all-conference, all-state honorable mention

Comment: “Rylee returns as a starting middle hitter for us again this year. One of the things I'm most excited about aside from the on-court growth is her leadership qualities. When she steps on the court, she is there for business and to make herself and her teammates better.” — Greenwood head coach Jennifer Golden

 Key statistics: 188 kills, 90 blocks, 14 digs

Comment: “Aniya has always been an elite blocking presence on the court and continues to improve in that arena. She has really come on strong with her attacking in preseason. We will look to her to be an even bigger offensive threat this season.” — Fort Smith Southside head coach Natalie Throneberry

 Key statistics: 201 kills, .319 hitting pct., 123 total blocks

Comment: “Sadie leads by example through her work ethic, competitiveness and positive attitude. She embraces competition and consistently rises to every challenge. Last year at the state tournament, I watched Sadie play her best volleyball. Sadie excels under pressure and is composed in high stake situations.” — Farmington head coach Kylie Moad

Key statistics: 315 kills, 132 blocks

Comment: “A great leader with a lot of energy!” — Conway St. Joseph head coach Luke Davis

Key statistics; 302 kills, .306 hitting pct., 75 blocks, all-state, all-state tournament, AVCA Phenom, Arkansas commitment

Comment: “Caroline is a very high level player. She’s 6-2 but also had an approach jump that is over 30 inches. She can put a ball away from a lot of different angles and is a force along the net. She is always looking for ways to grow and get better — her hunger to succeed makes her special.” — Shiloh Christian head coach Cassie Loyd

Key statistics: .307 hitting pct., 323 kills, 97 total blocks, 52 aces, All-State; Arkansas commitment

Comment: “Evie has had three really successful seasons as a Tiger, and we are very excited to see what she can do in her senior year. She was an all-state player last season, and I think she has the potential to be even more dynamic and explosive this year. She has worked really hard in the offseason to get stronger and improve her vertical, and I think that work is going to show on the court. Evie is one of the best blockers I have ever coached. She has a quick first step, does a great job taking up good space, and gets her arms up early. I really believe she has a chance to break our school record for total career blocks, which would be an incredible accomplishment. She is also really stepping into a leadership role as a senior, which I am excited to see. Evie is going to be a big threat for us both offensively and defensively, and I’m really excited to see what she can do this season.” — Bentonville head coach Hannah Berry