Middle Blockers Make Early Gains at Midwest Power League #1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, we have the middle blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our coverage of 2025's first Midwest Power League has ventured around the map. We've covered <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/setters-make-instant-impression-at-midwest-power-league-1/">setters</a>, <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/liberos-on-our-radar-after-midwest-power-league-1/">liberos</a>, two parts (<a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/pin-hitters-rising-after-midwest-power-league-1/">Part 1</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/01/pin-hitters-rising-after-midwest-power-league-1-pt-2/">Part 2</a>) of pin hitters, and a handful of 2028 standouts. Of course, we have to include the middle blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've already discussed a few middles in our 2028 feature, but the talent landscape extends far beyond the freshmen. Let's add a few more names to watch as the Great Plains Region prepares for the national stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["518569"],"_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-6796b772dc198"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ammon's upward trajectory started when she shined at last month's Top 250 Expo in La Vista. Her length and high contact point made her an unstoppable force during six-on-six drills. This standout performance came on the heels of [program_tooltip program_id='428728' first='River' last='City Jrs'] 16 Navy's AAU title journey, where Ammon was a multi-position star in the front row. Her stint at last weekend's Midwest Power League reminded us of how dominant Ammon can be when anchoring the middle of the net. 17 Navy enters 2025 with familiar postseason aspirations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["518585"],"_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-6796b772dc239"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's check in with another one of the top teams from the 17/18 Club division at The Courts. Quattrocchi helped her 17 Red squad lock down home territory and win the group's Silver bracket. This Lincoln High junior showcased her pin-to-pin agility and churned out plenty of positive block touches throughout the Midwest Power League. Quattrocchi has also made major strides as an attacker and wielded a snappy arm swing in front of the setter. 17 Red is ready to climb the regional hierarchy and make moves for a GJNC bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["521266"],"_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-6796b772dc2bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McKernan joins many of her Lincoln North Star teammates on a star-studded [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black roster. She posted one of Nebraska's best hitting efficiencies last fall as the Navigators broke into the Class A quarterfinals. The cohesion and experience from that late-season run has catapulted McKernan toward a quick start in 2025. She carved indefensible angles in front of the setter as a 16 Black roared to a division championship in last weekend's Power League. High-stakes qualifier trips await for this high-flying middle blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["521209"],"_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-6796b772dc339"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shaw has acclimated well to her new Nebraska Elite squad. She climbs the age ladder to join Nebraska Elite 17 Phoenix, where she can make her mark as a middle blocker or an opposite. Shaw is accustomed to playing in two-setter offenses that let her use her strong approach off of two feet. 17 Phoenix took full advantage of that strength and opened up Shaw for several floor-denting kills. Middle blocker depth is no problem in the Nebraska Elite gym.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["555495"],"_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-6796b772dc3b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The "playing up" theme persists with our next entry. We were anxious to see how Rautenberg meshed with the new 16 Synergy lineup after she lit up the scoreboard at last fall's state tournament. Fortunately, Milford's star freshman has passed the test after two early regional events. Rautenberg is lethal on traditional middle routes, but she also thrives as a pin hitter in first-ball situations. It's a wrinkle we saw when she competed last fall: find any way possible to give Rautenberg her share of swings. 16 Synergy will not hesitate to lean on their 2028 standout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ofeleia Ramirez-Rousseau","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lincoln Pius X","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6796b772dc4de"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We're getting more 2028s involved, even as a freshman feature covered a few players at this position. Ramirez-Rousseau was a constant energy source in the [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Elite frontcourt and wielded her explosiveness well in the middle. 15 Elite's up-tempo offense suits Ramirez-Rousseau's skill set well, allowing her to get off the floor quickly and swing over the top of opposing blockers. A runner-up finish in the 16 Open division is a great start for many of [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']'s top 2028s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='774700' first='Mya' last='Fiscus']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6796b772dc5d7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Here's one more visit with Midwest Power League's 15 Open champions. Fiscus was a persistent force in the middle and demonstrated impressive range in the front row. Her quick transition footwork opened up 15 Titanium's offense, making it harder to defend in the long, grueling rallies. Of course, Fiscus also provided the quick, instinctive net defense that has made [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] teams so successful at recent tournaments. The club has another big contender in 15 Titanium.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->