New Additions to the 2026 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">Tik Tok&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>The Prep Dig Exposure Tour is coming to Michigan on December 21! This is for all 2026-2029 prospects.&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2032/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-michigan#register">Click here to register</a>, and use promo code&nbsp;“LSHOTPD25”&nbsp;to get $10 off your registration.<br></strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>–</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026 Rankings have been updated! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With over 240 athletes in this latest update, we had a significant amount of athletes added to this class. These players have been making rumblings under the radar and experienced breakout seasons in their last high school season this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a lot of newbies on the list and you should give them a look!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='916061' first='Rachel' last='Wirth'] - Fowler</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fowler really had itself an incredible 2025. With its first ever state championship in hand, a lot of this has to be to the thanks of libero [player_tooltip player_id='916061' first='Rachel' last='Wirth']. This senior leader in the off colored jersey was absolutely lights out all throughout the season and, even more so, in the post season. Wirth's ability to read the game is top level and she has no problem taking blow after blow and making them look effortless.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='916033' first='Matalyn' last='LaFreniere'] - Manton</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a player out of Northern Michigan that could really use some more attention. [player_tooltip player_id='916033' first='Matalyn' last='LaFreniere'] has all the makings to be a very solid player at the next level, simply because she can do everything. I got to see LaFreniere early in the season and then again in the latter portions. She is an electric attacker. Lethal on the pins, in the middle and out of the back row in a variety of routes. She is a slugger. She also boasts a nice touch in the back row that allows her team to remain within plays. She's off to Kellogg CC and will do that program extremely well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='916060' first='Neelah' last='O'Rourke'] - Fowler</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We can't talk about just [player_tooltip player_id='916061' first='Rachel' last='Wirth'] on this historic Fowler team without talking about [player_tooltip player_id='916060' first='Neelah' last='O'Rourke']. Fowler had a complete trifecta this season of an elite libero, elite hitters and in O'Rourke's case, an elite setter! At 5'10, O'Rourke gave a much different look than many typically see at the Division 4 level and it proved to be a hard feat to contend with. She was clearly one of, if not, the best setters in her division this season and it showed with her team's dominating run this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='916013' first='Hannah' last='Thomas'] - North Branch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When talking a North Branch, a lot of the attention, and respectfully so has gone to their outside hitters, but this year, they had quite the mighty middle in [player_tooltip player_id='916013' first='Hannah' last='Thomas']. She was a returner from last year's squad, but really elevated her game in such a great way. Thomas became one of the premier middle blockers in Division 2 this year and offered her pin attackers a really strong compliment. Thomas was strong in every aspect of the game. Her attack was solid and her defense was top notch. From a big block at the net, Thomas often times found herself playing six rotations as well due to her range of skill as a player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='916068' first='Isabelle' last='Rookard'] - Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='916068' first='Isabelle' last='Rookard'] has actually been a long time stand out in the Division 4 scene, but for whatever reason has never been on our rankings. That changes today after she closes out an incredible career with the Irish. Rookard has held down the fort in the back row as Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart's libero for all four years now. A scrappy defender and steadfast receiver, Rookard helped lead the Irish to a first ever state title a few years ago as an underclassman. She then proceeded to maintain her team in the mix for top honors every year since.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='916619' first='Tatiana' last='Williams'] - Pinckney</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='916619' first='Tatiana' last='Williams'] is bursting onto the scene and better late than never. She is having a really strong senior year, starting off as Pinckney's star ace on the court. At 5'9, Williams is a high flyer and has a whip of an arm. She is coming off of a club season at Dynamite that saw her as a consistent highlight. Williams is committed to Edinboro and will be an exciting player to watch develop over the next few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='916020' first='Lily' last='Gnodtke'] - Tecumseh</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tecumseh has become quite the powerhouse in these last few years. While their hitters get a load of attention, one player that deserves some love should be at the setter position with [player_tooltip player_id='916020' first='Lily' last='Gnodtke']. Gnodtke has been at the center of it all throughout this evolution of the Indians program. She was crucial in leading the team to their second ever championship appearance last fall and another quarterfinal run this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='916036' first='Zoey' last='Kauffman'] - Roscommon</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roscommon seemingly came out of the woodworks and put the Michigan volleyball world on its head. From a non-ranked team, not talked about, to the No. 1 team in Division 3 for nearly the entirety of the 2025 season! Like Gnodtke, a lot of Roscommon's hitters get the spotlight, but [player_tooltip player_id='916036' first='Zoey' last='Kauffman'] has more than deserved her flowers too! Kauffman was a staple this fall and made herself one of the top setters in the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other Notable New Additions</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='916019' first='Teagan' last='Agren'] - Ogemaw Heights</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='916083' first='Chloe' last='Smith'] - Allen Park Inter City Baptist</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='916084' first='Elizabeth' last='Creger'] - Hillsdale Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='916021' first='Ava' last='Janusch'] - Regina</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lanie Langton - Beal City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='916043' first='Maddy' last='Mitchell'] - Kent City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='916044' first='Addyson' last='Rhodes'] - Calvin Christian</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='916046' first='Jaedyn' last='Herlein'] - Constantine</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='916047' first='Reagan' last='Zuiderveen'] - Kalamazoo Christian</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='916078' first='Elsie' last='Williams'] - Forest Park</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->