Arkansas' best high school volleyball players: Meet the state's top middle blockers

In volleyball, middle blockers make the net their personal territory. The like to get in the face of the opposing team’s top hitters with their hands up ready to swat away any shot that comes over the net. They are also in position to get the kills when the opening creates itself.

Here is a list of the top middle blockers on Arkansas high school volleyball teams with comments from their coaches.

Gracie Brown, junior, Bryant

Brown had 2.3 kills peer set with 60 blocks and 28 aces for the Lady Hornets a year ago. “She is another junior with two years of varsity playing experience. Gracie has led our team in blocks and kills during both her freshman and sophomore seasons,” said Bryant head coach Leigh Ann Back. “Gracie is very adaptable. She can play any position up front for us with comfort. She can also play 6 rotations with comfort. Gracie is a strong server.” Through Sept. 27, she has 152 kills and is hitting .291 on the season with 71 blocks, 42 digs and 32 aces. She twice had a season-high 14 kills in a 3-2 loss to Mount St. Mary on Aug. 29 and in a 3-0 victory over North Little Rock on Sept. 19. She had a season-high 4 blocks in a 3-2 loss to Cabot on Sept. 14 and a season-high 5 digs in a 3-1 loss to Little Rock Central on Sept. 7.

Kennedy Bullins, sophomore, Marion

Bulliins had 236 kills and 296 digs for the Lady Patriots who reached the 5A quarterfinals a year ago, earning all-state honors as a freshman. She was invited to participate in the Under Armour Next Camp in the spring. “Kennedy played all 6 rotations for us last season, never leaving the court. She doesn't play like a sophomore. Not only will Kennedy always be one of the best players on the court, she is also just as humble and kind,” said Marion head coach Lisa Beasley. Through Sept. 27, she has 229 kills and is hitting .306 on the season with 44 blocks. She has 10 matches with at least 10 kills, including a season-high 20 in a 3-2 victory over Valley View on Aug. 29. She had a season-high 5 blocks and 15 digs in a 2-1 victory over Evangelical Christian (Tenn.) on Aug. 26 in a tournament in Collierville, Tenn.

Carline Cannon, junior middle blocker, Mena

Cannon averaged 3-1 blocks per match and 10.1 kills per match. After surgery over the summer, she is back to full speed said Mena head coach Brad Lyle. “She is a strong presence on our front row that can score multiple ways. She has a huge volleyball IQ, blocks very well and has played a little back row also this summer. She’s a great leader.”

Alyson Edwards, middle blocker, Mansfield

Edwards was named MVP of the Class 2A state tournament when she had 17 kills while hitting .424 with 8 digs in a 3-0 victory over Lavaca. She has committed to Nebraska-Omaha. “She is a big determining factor of our success so far this season,” said Mansfield head coach Kaylie Andrews. “Aly is dependable at any point during the match. She is the team captain this season and is the glue that holds the entire team together. She is a 6 rotation player who has a great jump serve, dominates on the front row in hitting and blocking, is a great passer and defensive player, low error percentage, and makes very smart decisions.”

Bonnie Fagan, sophomore, Valley View

As a freshman, Fagan was promoted in time for the state tournament and helped the Blazers reach the state finals. This year, as a sophomore, she has 99 kills while hitting .267 with 27 blocks and 200 digs through Sept. 27. She had a season-high 13 kills in a 3-0 victory over Nettleton on Sept. 19. She’s had a a season-high 3 blocks four times this season and had a season-high 20 digs in a 3-0 victory over West Memphis on Sept. 14. Ten times this season, she has recorded at least 10 digs in a match.

Krimson Fager, junior, Harding Academy

Fager is a 3-year starter and had 66 kills, 58 digs and 20 blocks for the Lady Wildcats last year. “This year is the biggest jump she has made from one season to the other in her career. She has really improved her vertical this season. She also is very versatile and can hit from anywhere on the court so that is always a plus,” said Harding Academy head coach Matt Francis.

Khenedi Guest, senior, Benton

Guest earned all-state honors last year while averaging 6.6 kills and 2.4 blocks per game for the Lady Panthers, who won the Class 5A state title. “Guest is a huge presence in the middle

She loves to create offense, but she is not shy in putting in the time and effort to make a defensive presence. She can also play back row as needed,” said Benton head coach Michelle Shoppach. Through Sept. 27, she has 103 kills, 41 blocks and 31 digs. She had 10 kills and 4 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Hot Springs Lakeside.

Mileigh Harlow, junior Harding Academy

Harlow had 155 kills, 102 digs, 34 blocks and 34 aces for the Lady Wildcat a year ago and has started every game since her freshman year. “She just continues to get better and better every season,” said Harding Academy head coach Matt Francis. "She is a big presence up at the net in her blocking and brings a great tempo to the middle of the court that keeps defenses off balanced.”

Korlynn Hall, senior, Springdale Har-Ber

Hall has 139 kills and is hitting .210 on the season with 65 blocks and 18 digs. She had a season-high 12 kills and 7 blocks in a 3-2 loss to Bentonville on Sept. 12. She had three other matches with six blocks (3-0 victory over Rogers Heritage on Aug. 31; 2-0 loss to Springfield Kickapoo on Aug. 21 in the Bentonville Early Bird Invitational; 3-2 win over Shiloh Christian on Aug. 22).

McKinzee Haas, senior, Cabot

Haas had 187 kills while hitting .342 in 2022 with 102 blocks. “McKinzee Haas is a dynamic senior middle hitter/blocker. She is 6-foot-4 but has also worked extremely hard the past few years to become quicker and more agile. She is a great leader and captain for the team. She is competitive and also pushes her teammates to be their best. She committed early her junior year to UCA,” said Cabot head coach Anna Robertson. Though Sept. 27, she has 137 kills while hitting .435 with 58 blocks and 35 digs. She had a season-high 12 kills and 10 digs in a 3-0 victory over Mountain Home on Aug. 22 and had two other matches (2-0 victory over Rogers on Aug. 26 and 3-0 victory over North Little Rock on Sept. 21) with 10. She had 8 blocks in a 3-2 victory over Bryant on Sept. 14

Aubrey Judd, Hot Springs Lakeside

Lakeside head coach Rhonda Thigpen described Judd, who earned all-star tournament team honors, as a “quick, explosive player” with a really quick arm swing and has added versatility on offense and run many sets and serves very well. Thigpen said she reads blocks well. A the Lakeside Tournament, she had 40 kills, 13 blocks, 10 digs and 12 aces in 5 matches while helping her team win the title.

Danielle McKown, junior middle blocker, Van Buren

McKown had 109 kills, 53 aces and 44 blocks for the Pointers a year ago. “Danielle seems to always come through when we need a big play and always tough at the end of a ball game,” said Van Buren head coach Brent Reeves. “Her serve is hard to handle. She had 53 aces which led our team and is the most aces at Van Buren since I have been there. I believe she is going to have a breakout year.”

Reese Montgomery, Mena middle blocker, Mena

The junior averaged 3.7 blocks and 18.3 kills per match. She played on a club team that finished third in the nation in Chicago. Head coach Brad Lyle said, “She is a strong presence on our front row that can score multiple ways. She has a huge volleyball IQ. She blocks very well and has played a little back row also this summer. She’s a great leader.”

Tori Otter, junior middle blocker, Bentonville

Otter led the state with 130 blocks last year for the Tigers who reached the second round of the state tournament. Through Sept. 27, she has 171 kills while hitting .339 with 53 blocks and 38 digs. She had a season-high 24 kills in a 3-2 victory over Springdale Har-Ber on Sept. 12 and had 20 in a 3-2 victory over Fort Smith Northside on Aug. 24. She had a season-high 10 blocks and 7 digs in a 3-1 loss to Webb City (Mo.) on Sept. 11 and had 15 kills and 3 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Fort Smith Northside on Sept. 25.

Sophia Neihouse, senior middle blocker, Fort Smith Southside

Neihouse is a two-year starter for the Lady Mavericks who had 306 kills and 56 blocks. “She is very intelligent and a versatile middle hitter with a lot of power in a big leadership role,” said Throneberry. This season, she is averaging 2.0 kills per set and is hitting .330. Some of her highlights include 5 kills and 2 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Rogers Heritage on Sept. 12; 3 kills and 4 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Bentonville on Sept. 7; 6 kills and 3 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Springdale Har-Ber on Sept. 5; 9 kills and 4 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Benton on Sept. 2; and 4 kills and 5 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Shiloh Christian on the same day.

Lydia Pitts, junior, Fort Smith Southside

Pitts had 388 kills and 78 blocks and is a 2-year starter for the Lady Mavericks, who is capable of stepping into more versatile roles said head coach Natalie Throneberry. This season, she is averaging 2.9 kills per set with a .384 hitting percentage and has 22 blocks. Some of her highlights this season including 9 kills, 8 blocks, 7 digs and 12 assists in a 3-0 victory over Rogers Heritage on Sept. 12; 6 kills, 2 aces, 12 assists and 2 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Bentonville on Sept. 7; 10 kills, 11 assists, 9 digs and 6 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Shiloh Christian on Sept. 2; and 7 kills, 20 assists, 11 digs and 2 blocks in a 3-0 victory over Benton on the same day.

Lauren Reames, junior middle blocker, Paris

Reames had 68 kills and 36 blocks for the Lady Eagles, who reached the 3A quarterfinals a year ago.

Alona Rothwell, senior, Hackett

Rothwell led the Lady Hornets with 63 blocks and earned all-conference honors in 2022. “She has been a tremendous asset to our team. I moved her up her ninth-grade year and she contributed as a middle to that state championship team in 2020, and of course she has been a big reason we made it to the finals in 2021 and 2022. She was our team leader in blocks last year with 63 but has also stepped up her hitting and serving games, and we are excited to see what she can do in her final year at Hackett,” said Hackett head coach Bridget Freeman. Through Sept. 27, she has 63 kills, 27 blocks and 52 digs on the season. She had a season-high 6 kills three times (3-0 victory over Green Forest on Aug. 29; 3-0 victory over Alma on Sept. 11; 3-0 victory over Green Forest on Sept. 21). She had a season-high 6 blocks against Alma and a season-high 6 digs in a 2-0 victory over Mansfield on Aug. 26 at the Alma tournament.

Jordan Terry, senior, Little Rock Christian Academy

Terry, a 4-year- starter, finished the 2022 season with 184 kills while hitting .234 with 77 blocks and 28 aces. “She is a strong middle that excels in blocking. She is a strong Christian leader on and off the court for our team,” said LRCA head coach Lacey Rowan. Through Sept. 27, she averages 2.1 kills per set with 23 blocks. She had 7 kills and 6 blocks in a 3-1 loss to Little Rock Central on Aug. 31. She had 12 kills and 4 blocks in a 3-2 victory over Russellville on Aug. 28. She had 11 kills and 4 blocks in a 3-1 loss to Bryant on Aug. 31.

Kaylee Ward, sophomore, Mansfield

Ward played a huge role in Mansfield’s state championship season a year ago with 282 kills and 73 blocks and earned all-state honors. “Standing at 6-foot-4, she dominates on front row and is a huge threat to any team we face,” said Mansfield head coach Kaylie Andrews. “Her ability to reach above the net, as well as her power and agility at her age and size is incredible. Our team knows we can get her the ball at any point and she will put it down. She is quite the athlete to watch compete.”

Paige Webb, senior, Baptist Prep

Webb had 148 kills and 88 blocks for the 3A champion Lady Eagles in 2022 and has committed to play at Ouachita Baptist. “She is an amazing blocker and a great teammate,” said Baptist Prep head coach Krista Spoon. “She has grown so much in one year. Paige has worked hard to get better offensively on the off season. Look out for Paige Webb this fall. She is going to surprise some people with her blocking and hitting.” Through Sept. 27, she has 115 kills and is hitting .441 with 36 blocks and 17 digs. She had a season-high 9 kills in a 3-0 victories over Bryant and Jessieville on Sept. 25 and 27. She had a season-high 5 blocks in a 3-1 victory over Little Rock Central on Aug. 29.