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Abbie Powell grew up around the game. Her mother Whitney played at Munciana, won two USAV National Championships as a player, and has spent years coaching at the same club where Abbie now plays. Whitney Powell is currently a Munciana coach and former two-time state championship assistant — someone who has lived at the highest level of volleyball in Indiana for over two decades. The sport was never just something Abbie did. It was the family language.

Now Southern Wells’ Class of 2028 middle blocker is taking that inheritance to Columbus.

Abbie Powell has committed to Ohio State volleyball — a program that competes at the highest level in the Big Ten and has consistently developed middle blockers into elite college and professional players. For a player with Powell’s profile, it is the right destination at the right time.

Prep Dig described Powell as not only one of the most athletic middle blockers in the Class of 2028, but one of the most athletic middles in any class — and she led the entire state of Indiana in hitting percentage during the fall of 2025. That’s the number that tells the whole story. Hitting percentage isn’t just about power. It’s about decision-making, timing, and the ability to put the ball where defenders aren’t. Powell does all of it at a level that separates her from everyone else at her position in Indiana.

At 6-foot, Powell is springy, fast, and smart — a player with vision and volleyball acuity that makes up for the height advantage other middles carry, and brute strength that evaluators keep pointing to as a hidden weapon. She can play six rotations and contribute as a hitting option from the back row — the kind of versatility that coaches at the next level need from their middle blockers in the modern game.

She grew up in the country outside Montpelier, Indiana — deeply involved in FFA, competing in livestock judging, public speaking, and welding, with a passion for horses and a plan to study Agricultural Business in college. The athletic profile is remarkable. The full picture is even better.

The JVA Watch List for the Class of 2028 recognized Powell as one of the top middle blockers in the country — a national credential that reflects what Indiana evaluators have been saying at the state level for two years.

She was direct about what drove the Ohio State decision.

“Ohio State felt like home from the moment I stepped on campus,” Powell said. “I fell in love with the coaches, the people, and the atmosphere, and it has always been my dream school, so committing there was a really special moment for me. I’m so thankful for everyone who helped me get to this point.”

Ohio State is getting a player who defines herself through her teammates, not her statistics.

“Buckeye fans can expect a hardworking, competitive player who gives everything for her teammates and brings a lot of energy and passion to the court every day,” she said.

The commitment is official. The work hasn’t stopped.

“It’s definitely exciting and a huge relief, but my focus hasn’t changed,” Powell said. “I’m still motivated to keep improving every day and make the most of my senior season. I want to continue getting stronger, becoming a better teammate and player, and preparing myself to compete at the next level. I’m excited for the fall and ready to enjoy this season while continuing to work toward my goals at Ohio State.”

That’s a Munciana player talking. That’s a player whose mother won national championships and passed the standard down. And that’s exactly the kind of player Ohio State just added to their 2028 class.

Indiana keeps producing. The Big Ten keeps finding it.

Indiana Preps covers high school athletics, recruiting, and athlete development across the state of Indiana.