Return of the Mack: Top Middle Blockers (MI)

<h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow <strong>@lshotvb </strong>on Instagram and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6>   <p>With the introduction to the 2023 season, it's time to take a look at who's who to watch this coming fall.</p>   <p>Going down the list positionally, we have to start out with the middle blockers. Who are the big returners in the middle and poised for huge seasons? We got you covered</p>   <p>Let's take a look at the top returning middle blockers in the 2023 season.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] - Cass City</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/08/Shelby-Ignash-Bingo.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-452508" style="width:233px;height:155px" width="233" height="155" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash']</figcaption></figure>   <p>One of the top returning middle blockers in the entire state, Ignash is going to look to capitalize off of a huge sophomore year. After leading her team to a semifinal match in Division 3, she returns after a runner-up finish at AAU Nationals in June. Ignash is the one foot queen that nobody can stop. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='254395' first='Fiona' last='Moord'] - Leland</h2>   <p>If this is the year that we see the return of Leland Volleyball in Division 4, it'll be upon the shoulders of Moord. Moord is one of the biggest players you can find in Division 4. As an attacker, she's undeniable at the net with her explosiveness. As a blocker, she's one of the toughest you'll find in D4.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='473915' first='Hannah' last='Baker'] - Lenawee Christian</h2>   <p>From one D4 powerhouse middle to the next, [player_tooltip player_id='473915' first='Hannah' last='Baker'] was amongst the most efficient attackers in Michigan a season ago. While hitting right around .500 on her junior season, Baker returns as one of the top dogs. A lot of question will remain around when Baker will grace the courts again given an ACL injury right after the 2022 season.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='462056' first='Saige' last='Martin'] - Pewamo-Westphalia</h2>   <p>Blink and you'll miss it. One of the fastest players off of the ground and bringing down the hammer, Martin is going to have an even bigger year as she looks to lead Pewamo-Westphalia to a second straight Division 3 title. Martin is a multiple time state champion in track and field as a hurdler, which surely helps her speed and net play. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='156288' first='Aubree' last='Calloway'] - Bronson</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/A3783325-7824-428F-8951-1FF67F59A8B8.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-411241" style="width:268px;height:178px" width="268" height="178" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] </figcaption></figure>   <p>Calloway comes in a long line of dominating hitters to emerge from the Bronson cannon. Returning for her junior season, this dynamo in the middle could very well take Bronson back home to Kellogg after a 5 year drought. Calloway boasts a like of power in her swings. She sees the set well and explodes into it, making her so powerful and so effective.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] - Bedford</h2>   <p>Speaking of effective attackers, not very many were as effective OR efficient than Gray last season. Going for a clean .500 hit percentage and 1.2 blocks per set on the season, Gray is a monster at the net. Her physicality and IQ for the game is second to none. It's hard to contend with Bedford when they're able to connect with her in the middle.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='156299' first='Olivia' last='Grenadier'] - Detroit Country Day</h2>   <p>Grenadier has been a highlight for Detroit Country Day since her first steps onto the court as a freshman. Last year, she saw huge gains in her play and this season will look no different. Grenadier will be tasked with a much heavier offensive load and maintaining her blocking prowess given the loss of <strong>Laurece Abraham</strong> (Yale). </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261138' first='Delaney' last='Zielke'] - Notre Dame Prep</h2>   <p>This player may easily be one of, if not, the smallest middle in the group. Standing tall and proud at 5'9, don't let this player's size fool you. With incredible hops, a whip of an arm and that good 'ole Notre Dame Prep edge, Zielke can go toe-to-toe with the biggest and best of 'em. Similar to DCD, Zielke will have to be go-to this season with the loss of leading scorer <strong>Grace Wenaas</strong> from a season ago.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='110314' first='Carissa' last='Musta'] - Cadillac</h2>   <p>Talk about making a splash. 2022 saw Musta drive the Cadillac Vikings all the way to the title game. The mighty mac in the middle towers at the net, standing at 6'5. Musta is a true gamer. In the post-season tournament, Musta put up over 120 kills, averaging 4.5 kills per set and 44 blocks.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='176598' first='Jenna' last='Southland'] - Three Rivers</h2>   <p>Maybe an underdog in the Division 2 space, if [player_tooltip player_id='176598' first='Jenna' last='Southland'] has anything to say about things, Three Rivers could do BIG things this fall. Southland nearly put down 500 kills in her junior season. The Hillsdale commit is nearly 80 kills away from. 1,000 career kills and has a career hit percentage of .308.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell'] - Forest Hills Northern</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/9-Kendall-Hopewell.jpg?w=859" alt="" class="wp-image-277465" style="width:190px;height:226px" width="190" height="226" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell']</figcaption></figure>   <p>It'll be interesting to see where Hopewell plays along the net. But needless to say, she's one of the top dogs in the state. One of the most dominating presences, Hopewell's game is pristine and intense. Hopewell enters the 2023 fall, after a semifinal run in 2022, as one of the state's leading blockers and most dominating attackers.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='156301' first='Elyse' last='Heffner'] - Traverse City Central</h2>   <p>Traverse City Central is one of those dark horse squads coming into the fall. They boast one of the top emerging blockers in the 2025 class, [player_tooltip player_id='156301' first='Elyse' last='Heffner']. While a great blocker, Heffner really elevates off of the ground with a high contact point. Heffner will look to capitalize off of a big sophomore season to propel TCC to big things.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='110282' first='Mallory' last='Bohl'] - Saline</h2>   <p>The 2022 season simply wasn't the same without one of the top players in the state. An ACL injury sustained in the first week of September - a mere week after announcing her commitment to Notre Dame - Bohl was sidelined for the remainder of her Junior year. Back to health and creeping closer and closer to where she was, Bohl is going to be a huge piece for Saline volleyball this Fall.</p>