Sophomore Block Leaders In 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore class has a number of talented blocking specialists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 2023 season, we are seeing a handful of 2026 prospects be very difficult to get the ball past.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's 10 block leaders thus far in the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*Stats were provided through MaxPreps</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226909' first='Kayla' last='Nwabueze'], Bloomfield Hills</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dynamic national prospect does a bit of everything for the Black Hawks, but she has a real knack for coming up with key blocks. This season, Nwabueze is up to 80 total blocks, averaging more than one per set. She's already up to 238 in her young career as well. Just in her last seven matches, she's tallied a total of 28 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Jaelyn Laird, Ludington</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ludington has been full of production-heavy players in 2023 and this sophomore middle is making a big impact with her blocking instincts. She sits at 64 blocks on the season and has recorded at least one block in seven straight matches. That includes a five-block performance in a four-set win over Montague.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226945' first='Jayla' last='Zayti'], Marian</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs had a lot of questions coming into the season in the middle. With no returning starters, it was up to Zayti to fill the big hole left. She's finding another gear as of late, now up to 57 blocks on the season. That includes a solid three blocks in a win over Mercy on Tuesday in the CHSL Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438529' first='Mckenna' last='Boykin']</strong>, Portland</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A promising sophomore that we got at look at prior to the season in our Stock Up Showcase, Boykin is having a nice year for the Red Raiders. She's got 53 blocks this season to lead the team. She's recorded a block in nine of her last 10 outings. That includes a four-block performance against Charlotte and another four-block performance against Pewamo-Westphalia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Maddie Ostrander, GR Catholic Central</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catholic Central looks to be in the Division 2 mix once again this year. Ostrander has been a nice asset for the team in the middle. She's recorded 48 blocks on the year to be a big part of the defensive effort. She's had a pair of six-block performances this season, once against East Kentwood and another against Cedar Springs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Tanaya Brown, Niles</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Niles has to be encouraged by the play of this sophomore. Though standing just 5'7”, she's making a big impact on the net offensive and defensively. She's up to 43 blocks this year, more than double she had all of the 2022 season as a freshman. Brown has recorded a block in five straight matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='487079' first='Jillian' last='Gibbs'], Orchard Lake St. Mary's</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eaglets are stacked with talent and a real contender in Division 2 this year. Gibbs is a big reason why. Stats list her at 42 blocks on the season, but the Eaglets haven't updated their data for a few weeks, so I am guessing that total is much higher now. Still, Gibbs went six straight matches last month with at least two blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Hannah Thomas, North Branch</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Branch is certainly a dominant team this year, but the Broncos had some real questions in the middle to start the year. Thomas has provided a nice boost for the team with her play. She's got 39 blocks on the season. That includes four matches with at least three blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226901' first='Madelyn' last='Hungerford'], East Grand Rapids</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>EGR has taken a lot of lumps this season playing a very challenging schedule. However, that has helped build up some of the younger talents on the Pioneers. Hungerford has 39 blocks on the season, including a recent four-block performance against Coopersville last weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569764' first='Amani' last='Agoot'], West Bloomfield</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Bloomfield has made a clean run through the OAA White thus far and Agoot has played her role as a blocking specialist well with 38 on the season. That was highlighted by an eight-block performance against Troy Athens a few weeks ago to put the Lakers in control of the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PrepDig is putting on the Michigan Top 250 Expo for Class of 2024-27 prospects on Dec. 9 in Pontiac.&nbsp;</em><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/914/register/michigan-top-250-expo"><em>Click here</em></a><em>&nbsp;to sign up for the event. You can use promo code “EllisExpo2023” for $10 off your registration.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->