Throughout Spring Volleyball, GoAugie.com will take a look at the various position groups. The second installment of the Spring Report focuses on the middle blockers.

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The Augustana volleyball team returns three from its middle blockers position last year as well as welcoming in one more in the freshman class. Sophomores Abby Benson and Izzy Sommers return after leading the team in blocks a season ago while junior Mearah Miedema looks to build off last year.

"This Spring the middle blockers focused on our actual hand positioning while blocking and then being the vocal leaders in defense to offense transition," head coach Jen Jacobs said. "I am happy of the way they are learning to command the court, and demand the ball which is so important in the middle. Mearah, Abby, and Izzy are all experienced middles now in our league and will all be integral in our future success!"

Sommers returns after an impressive redshirt-freshman season. She was a big factor in the middle recording 172 kills which was second on the team last season and will be the the most returning. Sommers was as dominant on the defensive side as she was on the offensive side pulling in 48 blocks, second on the team last season. She had a season-high 11 kills against Concordia St. Paul and a season-high five total blocks against Missouri-St. Louis.

The Jackson, Minn. native, Benson was a difference maker on the defensive side throughout the whole season. She led the team with 13 solo blocks and 63 block assists for 76 total blocks throughout the season which was 17th in the conference for most total blocks. She will be a huge asset in the middle next season for the Vikings. Benson had a season high six blocks against Minnesota State and 10 kills against Missouri-St. Louis.

Miedema, a Sioux Falls, S.D. native, pulled in 16 kills for an attacking percentage of .076 in 10 matches played over the past season. She also chipped in with 10 block assists and one solo block for a total of 11 blocks on the season. Miedema had a season high five blocks against Seton Hill and a season high four kills against MSU Moorhead last season. The Sioux Falls native is really making a case for herself during the spring time leading into her junior season. She is also a high jumper on the track and field team at Augustana and is currently tied for first in the NSIC with a mark of 5 feet 4.5 inches thus far.

The lone freshman in the middle blockers core is Piper Asche. The 6'1 freshman is from Clara City, Minn., and was a four-year letter winner and was a All-Conference selection four times for MACCRAY High School. She will bring in great quickness in the middle in the next coming years for the Vikings.

Part three of the Spring Report features the setters and will be available on Wednesday.


Read past features below:
Part one: Pin Hitters (Thursday, April 25)