IHSAA volleyball: Central Indiana's top middle hitters and blockers to watch in 2024

While there are a number of up-and-coming pins eager to make a name for themselves in Central Indiana girls volleyball , the middle position is loaded with returning standouts and Division I prospects from all over the Indianapolis area.

Here are 15 (or so) to keep an eye on this fall.

Carsyn Comer, Westfield

The Shamrocks should be set at the net (nailed it) for the next three seasons with the 6-3 Comer playing along the front line. The sophomore put down 51 solo blocks (68 total) in her first varsity season, while also registering 195 kills on a team-leading .410 hitting percentage. Comer also tallied four aces, 21 digs and an assist.

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Reese Dunkle, Center Grove

Dunkle, who flipped her commitment from Northwestern to Stanford over the summer, established herself as a really well-rounded talent last season. The 6-3 senior picked up 117 blocks (just shy of her school record), notched a career-high 307 kills on a .294 hit% and logged 68 digs. She and fellow middle Ellen Zapp should make the Trojans a tough match-up for most opponents.

Randee Garringer, Mooresville

A center for the basketball team and middle hitter for the volleyball team, the 6-1 Garringer averaged 2.5 blocks per set and 7.5 per match. She finished the season with a career-high 231 total blocks (97 solo) and hit .282 with 103 kills. Garringer, who logged 10 solo blocks vs. Martinsville in sectional, is the team’s top returning attacker.

Ryleigh Hamilton, Southport

As a junior, Hamilton helped the Cardinals finish above .500 for the first time since 2019, putting down 241 kills (.312 hit%) and 86 total blocks — 41 of which were solo efforts. Hamilton is one of three returning attackers with varsity experience, but Southport will have a new setter.

Olivia Johnson, Mt. Vernon

Johnson and fellow middle Alivia Morgan will be largely responsible for leading the Marauders’ attack this fall. For her part, Johnson, a 5-11 senior, recorded 61 blocks and 103 kills (both career highs) over 82 sets. She has 99 blocks through three seasons.

Mackenzie Kruer, Roncalli

A Michigan State soccer commit, the 6-foot Kruer enjoyed a successful summer on the club soccer circuit and enters her final volleyball season looking to build upon a breakout campaign. A unique weapon at the net for the Royals, Kruer accumulated 103 blocks (32 solo), 189 kills (.319 hit%) and 40 digs for the regional champs.

Avery Lewis, Cathedral

The 6-1 junior shined within a more significant role last season, posting a well-rounded line with 36 solo blocks (47 total), 85 digs, 146 kills (.322 hit%), 29 aces and 18 assists. She’ll play an even more important role this season with Cathedral replacing a few key pieces in its lineup.

Camryn McCollum, Avon

McCollum will miss her senior season due to a knee injury, but the Memphis commit had a heck of a three-year run with the Orioles with 196 blocks and 420 kills (.264 hit%). McCollum, who had nine blocks in the sectional final vs. Brownsburg, logged career highs in blocks (105) and kills (271) last season.

Alivia Morgan, Mt. Vernon

The other piece to Mt. Vernon’s middle, Morgan is also coming off a career year, one in which she logged 54 blocks and 176 kills (most among MV’s returners) with a .255 hit%. She also scored 58 digs.

Noema Philistin-Lynch, Carmel

The 5-8 hitter maintained a significant presence at the net for the Greyhounds, racking up 72 total blocks and 228 kills on a .238 hit% over 101 sets. She’s the team’s top returning attacker.

Reese Resmer, Noblesville

The Millers have a few significant pieces to replace, but they’ll maintain an intimidating presence at the net with the 6-0 junior Kansas State commit in the middle. Resmer blocked a team-high 82 shots (30 solo) and swung .431 with 257 kills, most among the team’s returners.

Aubrey Runyon, Franklin

There will be a number of new faces in the Grizzly Cubs’ lineup this fall, but among the carryovers is the 5-10 Runyon. She recorded 62 blocks, 40 of which were solo efforts, as a junior, leaving her with 195 for her career. She also put down 187 kills and could reach the 700-kill mark for her career (currently at 487).

Elli Strecker, Zionsville

Add Strecker to the list of Division I standouts on the Zionsville roster. The 6-3 middle recently committed to Louisville and is coming off a season in which she accumulated 173 kills (.365 hit%) and 55 total blocks (35 solo). The Eagles will be a really difficult out come state tournament time.

Kinley Young, Lebanon

Young is one to monitor from the 3A ranks after she put down 48 blocks (16 solo) and tallied 172 kills (.234 hit%) last season as a freshman. She’s the top returning attacker for Lebanon, which graduated three of its top-four leaders in kills.

Addisyn Yoder, Greenwood Christian

The 6-0 Yoder is part of a strong returning nucleus for GCA. The senior middle totaled 72 blocks (40 solo) last season, and tallied 206 kills on a .387 hit%. Yoder also served up 63 aces and logged 69 digs.

Ellen Zapp, Center Grove

The Trojans have quite the potent 1-2 punch up front with Reese Dunkle and Zapp. As for the latter, the 6-foot Oakland commit plays outside, opposite and middle, and recorded 408 kills with a career-best .242 hit%, 39 total blocks, 60 digs and 11 assists. Zapp has 770 kills through three seasons.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA volleyball: Central Indiana's top middle hitters and blockers to watch in 2024