Middles in the 2025 Rankings Update!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class of 2025 Middle Blockers in our latest Rankings update have the size, speed and skill to dominate play at the net. <span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">The quality and depth are tops for all positions in the class, with middles taking up five spots in the top ten and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207444' first='Lauren' last='Wiese']</strong>, committed to Baylor, ranked #1 overall.</span> That depth is something we want to highlight in this article.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Covering athletes from just outside the top ten to several middles brand new to the rankings, these players all do the hard work that the position demands, and then some!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2025","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"32924","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87d035"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["266132"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e558"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It will be interesting to watch what position Wiliams finds herself in at the next level. The prospect from Capital can score from all three spots on the net and has the great length at 6'3" to be a shutdown blocker. Williams shined on the right side, handling the ball when she had the chance, and used great footwork to be a constant threat offensively. Capital will undoubtedly have to think about Williams as a six-rotation OH, knowing that she will have a more significant hand in things than just three rotations as an RS or MB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/sATISItVNNA?si=QLhxG3rE5ch6hS4m","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/sATISItVNNA?si=QLhxG3rE5ch6hS4m </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["267777"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e5af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ligons is the #7 rated middle and the #23 overall player in the updated Prep Dig rankings. Long and explosive, she is a shut-down blocker who continues to add to her offensive game. When Space Needle ran the Glacier Peak standout quick and in rhythm this club season, she absolutely bounced kills all over the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["266137"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e5ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Frye slots in at #8 in the middle blcoker rankings, the rising senior from Shorewood is a skilled offensive player with a great work ethic closing the block. Frye has excellent length at 6'2" and is decisive on overpasses and jousts at the net. During the club season with WVBA, Frye showed a solid ability to see the block as she was attacking and scored to open spots on the court with a hard swing and a soft well-placed tip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/e1FvkEo758o?si=y-eCuIo7bpVt9fkI","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/e1FvkEo758o?si=y-eCuIo7bpVt9fkI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["268056"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e62f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Berglund peaked at the perfect time for her CPA squad in the postseason, hammering down kills on sets to the seam and off one foot using a smooth slide attack. The Freeman standout is an excellent server and defender when she is in the back row, showing off a good overall skill set on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/SxFnqvEEcfU?si=5-IEWp70qBC9QRfU","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/SxFnqvEEcfU?si=5-IEWp70qBC9QRfU </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["400629"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e66f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Benjamin is a recent commit to Seattle Pacific. The Falcons are building a team with terrific players, primarily from Washington! The 2025 from Cedarcrest High School is now pushing 6'4" and is a huge blocker who has made big strides in her offensive game. Her routes and footwork became more precise as the club season went on for WVBA, and Benjamin can really get up and hammer a quick set when it's nice and high.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21588416/6690b6ccab0711d9f5444609' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e7e9"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["485796"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e82e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Olson looks for open spots as an attacker, and she has the shots out of the middle to score when she sees them. She has the length to throw down a tip hard or drop it just over an outstretched hand. Olson plays with fire and keeps her team's energy at a high level, she should have a tremendous senior season this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["553655"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e86b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lazar plays big and has a heavy arm swing she uses to terminate on quick hitters and seam routes. She can score on the slide and has the vision to drive the ball down the line or to the back corner. Lazar is alwasy ther and ready to hit in transition, that reliability makes her a prime attacking option for her setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20373795/655c465502bc3812a01015c5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e88a"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486980"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e8c3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown has quick feet and hands for a tall middle blocker. She can make plays when it's messy and is quick to close on a pin hitter who thinks they have a "1 Up." Brown has a high ceiling; she has all the attributes needed at the middle spot. She looked very comfortable running seam routes and using a well-placed tip over the top to score this club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/uL4vr7Fi2E8?si=o4joZqyVr7HPA3iI","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/uL4vr7Fi2E8?si=o4joZqyVr7HPA3iI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["520105"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b6efc87e93b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Seattle Juniors middle is fast in transition and makes great adjustments to be available for her setter. During Archbishop Murphy's school season, MacDonald will swing from either pin, showing off her versatility along the front row. MacDonald has a tough jump float that she can locate all over the court. It's a scoring threat and throws teams out of the system regularly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/Aq6y39kgJNk?si=9taVjg1avxFxWnzS","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/Aq6y39kgJNk?si=9taVjg1avxFxWnzS </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->