Six 2027 Thumb Area Prospects That Could Breakout

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*Prep Dig Michigan will be hosting two Showcase events on Sunday, Aug. 3. You can now register for the </em><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1540/register/michigan-freshman-showcase"><em>Michigan Freshman Showcase</em></a><em> or the </em><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1521/register/michigan-stock-up-showcase"><em>Michigan Stock Up Showcase</em></a><em>. Use code “EllisDig2025” to get $10 off your registration.*</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get closer to the 2025 prep season, there are upcoming seniors around the state eager to show what they can do on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Central Michigan area, there are seven soon-to-be seniors in the Class of 2026 that have made a name for themselves and looking to leave a lasting impact for their schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Kylie Doherty, S North Branch</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Doherty stepped into the role of setter for North Branch last fall, which came with plenty of expectations after her predecessor was so successful. Doherty handled the challenge well and ran a smooth Bronco offense that took the squad back to the D2 quarterfinals despite many expecting a transition season. Doherty should step into 2025 with plenty of confidence and a powerful attack to lean on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611100' first='Waverly' last='Hagen'], MB Ubly/Mavericks</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hagen is 6'1” and has shown she can play in the middle or on the outside, which gives her teams some flexibility to work with. She moves really well for her size and has a nice spring in her step to make some impressive, yet effortless kills. Hagen has a good knack for blocking as well, and has looked dominant for long stretches during club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Grace Ehrmantraut, L/DS Millington/Five:1</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ehrmantraut had an incredible nose for the ball as a sophomore. She was able to crack 20+ digs quite often for Millington last fall. She stayed light on her feet and kept her arms in good position to make clean digs for her setter. Ehrmantraut was also an energy player for the Cardinals, which should continue into this fall as she helps her team be a lockdown defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mia Jacobson, MH/OH Sandusky</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacobson came on really strong late in the season, which bodes well for her junior year at Sandusky. She is able to take on a solid workload and produce high-quality swings consistently. However, her ability to read blockers and adjust her shots is what helped her game get to another level during the 2024 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Sophia Leach, OPP North Branch</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Branch relied heavily on dominant hitter [player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky'], but Leach was also a reliable complement for the Broncos. She showed a lot of court IQ in making kills that required some last-second adjustments. Leach stayed engaged defensively as well, helped North Branch remain among the top contenders in Division 2. This fall, Leach should be showing new wrinkles to her attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Abi Rohling, MH Marlette</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6'2” middle, Rohling was able to finish at a high rate as a sophomore, as she read the court well and was able to display advanced footwork. She's got a lot of length to work with, so she can play over the block, or through it. Defensively, Rohling was very disruptive at the net as well. She is likely to be a major factor this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->