High school girls volleyball: Best middles in the nation

These 20 front-row players are among the best in the country this season

The high school girls volleyball season is in full swing all across the United States.

SBLive Sports has been taking a position-by-position look at some of the best high school volleyball players in the nation.

The first installment featured the top outside and opposite hitters from all corners of the country, followed by the top setters and liberos/defensive specialists. Now it’s time to wrap things up with the tallest players on the court.

Here are 20 of the best middles in high school volleyball.

Ayden Ames, sr., Prosper (Texas)

The 6-foot-4 Ames is arguably the top middle blocker in the country. A Nebraska commit, Ames had 97 total blocks during her junior season while also recording 564 kills, 256 digs and 20 aces. 

Henley Anderson, so., Dripping Springs (Texas)

Anderson tallied 74 total blocks a season ago as Dripping Springs captured the Class 6A state title. Anderson was an all-around player as a freshman, finishing with 540 kills and 369 digs. 

Lizzy Andrew, sr., Ridgefield (Washington)

Over the summer, Andrew helped the United States U-19 team win gold at the NORCECA Pan American Cup. The 6-foot-5 Andrews is committed to Stanford. 

Favor Anyanwu, sr., Sachse (Texas)

Anyanwu had 167 total blocks as a sophomore and added 122 more last fall for Class 6A Sachse. The USC commit also put up 410 kills and 40 aces during her junior year. 

Zoey Burgess, sr., Lone Peak (Utah)

One of the most feared players in Utah, Burgess recorded 73 total blocks as a junior. She also led Lone Peak with 342 kills and added 119 digs and 32 aces. 

Eloise Diffley, sr., Lovett (Georgia)

A three-sport standout in basketball, lacrosse and volleyball, Diffley is a force in the middle for Lovett. She had 76 total blocks as a junior to go along with 73 kills and 32 aces. 

Megan Fitch, jr., Cornerstone Christian (Texas)

Fitch recorded 65 total blocks, 299 digs and 495 kills — second on the team behind current Iowa State hitter Nayeli Gonzalez — during her sophomore season. Fitch is committed to Texas A&M. 

Jenna Hanes, sr., Cathedral Catholic (California)

The daughter of former UCLA All-American Kara Milling, Hanes is a dominant presence at the net for Cathedral Catholic. The 6-foot-3 senior is committed to Michigan.  

Taylor Harvey, jr., Bountiful (Utah)

Harvey shined as a sophomore for Bountiful, putting up 86 total blocks, 292 kills and 137 digs. She is also a standout basketball player who averaged nearly 15 points per game a season ago. 

Ryla Jones, sr., Flint Hill (Virginia)

Jones recorded 68 total blocks during a dominant junior season for Flint Hill. She also had 193 kills and 59 aces. 

Akylah Kaino, jr., Burns (Oregon)

Kaino was one of the state’s most productive middle blockers a season ago, recording 132 total blocks. She also had 324 kills. 

Jazmen Kutey, sr., Lincoln (South Dakota)

Kutey averaged nearly two blocks per set as a junior, finishing the year with 149 total blocks. As an attacker, Kutey notched 253 kills. 

Leela Ormsby, sr., Billings (Montana)

Ormsby was a standout in the middle last year for a Billings team that captured the Class AA state championship. She ended the season with 166 total blocks, 285 kills and 22 aces. 

Victoria Otter, jr., Bentonville (Arkansas)

Otter had 130 total blocks and 263 kills a season ago en route to Class 6A all-state honors. The 6-foot-2 junior also plays soccer for Bentonville. 

Alec Rothe, sr., Dublin Scioto (Ohio)

Rothe, a Florida commit, recorded 80 total blocks during her junior season for Dublin Scioto. She also shined as a hitter with a team-leading 341 kills. 

Tiffany Snook, sr., Hamilton Southeastern (Indiana)

Snook put up 56 total blocks as a sophomore and had 95 more last fall for Hamilton Southeastern. The Memphis commit added 177 kills and 20 aces a season ago. 

Lynney Tarnow, so., Benet Academy (Illinois)

One of the top recruits for the Class of 2026, Tarnow is a 6-foot-5 middle with abundant skill. She had 172 kills last season as Benet Academy reached the Class 4A state finals. 

Anaya Thrower, sr., Vanden (California)

Thrower, an Oregon commit, put up 93 total blocks and 177 kills last fall. Through her first 14 sets of the 2023 season, Thrower was sitting on 48 blocks. 

Ellie White, sr., Mother McAuley (Illinois)

A standout in many areas, White compiled 103 total blocks, 289 digs and 542 kills during her dominant junior season for Mother McAuley. White will play college volleyball for Michigan. 

D’aira Whitner, so., Gilmour Academy (Ohio)

Whitner was a difference-maker as a freshman, recording 79 total blocks, 247 kills and 27 aces. She is already sitting on 20 blocks this fall as of Sept. 8. 

(Henley Anderson photo by John Gutierrez/Special to American-Statesman / USA Today Network)

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports