A Look at the Top 5 Liberos in the 2025 Class: Michigan
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This has been a huge year for the class of 2025. After major club seasons, the floodgates have opened for recruiting to begin. With 21 of our top 30 ranked players committed, this has been a pretty crazy few months. On top of that, this junior class showed out during the high school season.
With all of the excitement from 2023 coming to a close, let’s take a look at the top 5 liberos in the rankings.
No. 3 McKenna Payne McKenna Payne 5'7" | DS/L SMCC | 2025 State #105 Nation MI – SMCC/Michigan Elite (Utah)
She may be one of the top defenders in the country, but this fall, McKenna Payne McKenna Payne 5'7" | DS/L SMCC | 2025 State #105 Nation MI was showing off her full-range of athletic ability. With a hole in the line-up for SMCC, the Kestrels were in dire need of a setter. Who better to step up than this player? Eventually running the offense all on her own, Payne did quite the job, leading SMCC to the Final Four this season. This all comes on the coattails of an impeccable club season where Payne led Michigan Elite to a 16 Open AAU Championship match in June.
Shortly thereafter, Payne committed to play for former PAC-12, now Big-12, powerhouse, the Utah Utes. She’ll join long-time coach and fellow Michigan native, Beth Launiere.
No. 16 Taygan Corstange Taygan Corstange 5'4" | DS/L Gull Lake | 2025 State MI – Gull Lake/Dead Frog (Uncommitted)
This player leaves very little time before you’re fixated on her in the back court. Scrappy, ferocious and willing to go for it, Taygan Corstange Taygan Corstange 5'4" | DS/L Gull Lake | 2025 State MI does an incredible job in the ‘bro jersey. With Dead Frog, Corstange was pivotal in her team’s success at AAU Nationals, placing top 5 overall in 16 Premier. Fast forward to this past fall, she was doing her usual thing and had Gull Lake well within the mix for another deep post-season run.
So far, Corstange remains uncommitted. This is something I count on seeing change very quickly.
No. 26 Madison Peal Madison Peal 5'8" | DS/L Grand Rapids Christian | 2025 State MI – Grand Rapids Christian/MVA (Uncommitted)
While this player feel somewhat under the radar during club season, she made up for the lost time this past fall. As the story went in Division II, Grand Rapids Christian is BACK! While with a mix of some high-level youth, it was also the insane play of All-State honoree, Madison Peal Madison Peal 5'8" | DS/L Grand Rapids Christian | 2025 State MI . With over 400 digs in her first season at the libero position, Peal made quite the impression. So much so, she had the Eagles soaring all the way to their first Final Four since 2021.
Similar with Corstange, Peal remains uncommitted. However, she’s riding a real good wave of success as of late that could be attracted lots of recruiting attention. I wouldn’t be shocked to see this player scooped up come summer time.
No. 32 Layna Waselewsky Layna Waselewsky 5'5" | DS/L Forest Hills Eastern | 2025 State MI – Forest Hills Eastern/FaR Out (Eastern Michigan)
There has to be something in the water over in this small pocket of the Greater Grand Rapids area. The volleyball talent coming out of the Forest Hills cannons are insane. Forest Hills Eastern was looked at as one of the biggest dark horses this last fall in DII. Largely due to the defensive grit from a player like Layna Waselewsky Layna Waselewsky 5'5" | DS/L Forest Hills Eastern | 2025 State MI .
Just on the heels of high school season, Waselewsky announced her commitment to Eastern Michigan. A MAC program on the rise, now under new leadership. A pick-up like this could do wonders down the line.
No. 35 Alivia Brown Alivia Brown 5'9" | DS/L Temperance Bedford | 2025 State MI – Bedford/Legacy (Uncommitted)
It had been awhile since we have heard anything from this powerhouse program. But little did we know, just how good their 2025 class was going to be. Yet, another, Kicking Mule is ranked among the best of the best in this class. Alivia Brown Alivia Brown 5'9" | DS/L Temperance Bedford | 2025 State MI is certainly a player to keep an eye on. Listed primarily as a libero, Brown has played a strong utility role for much of her career. This past season saw her as a six rotation outside for Bedford, and to great success. She was one of the primary passers and a great weapon offensively.
Yet, still uncalled for, this is another player whom I see getting snatched up within the next few months. With her athleticism and versatility, this player could be a real steal for any program.