Huge Moves for 2028 Middles in the Rankings Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The middles make up 40 total spots in the rankings, and 23 are 6'0" or taller. We all know that is absolutely true- volleyball players are well known for NEVER adding an inch or two to their listed height. Basketball heights on the other hand... I'm not so sure. Regardless, this is a talented group, with height, skill, and energy to spare. We start with the top four in the rankings and cover four others before sharing the complete MB list to finish. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='628925' first='Piper' last='Moog']<br>| 6'6"| I #2 Overall. Moog played on the right side at times for NPJ; we saw her use her dominating size and press as a shutdown blocker against quality outsides. Her footwork continues to develop and improve as a blocker and attacker, and she has an excellent high contact point on her swing that will serve her well as she gets more physical. Teams did their best to avoid running middles when Moog was on the floor, and when teams were out of system, the outcome was even worse. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":2} --> <ol start="2" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='666956' first='Jayna' last='Humbert']<br>| 6'2" | Oklahoma Verbal Commit. #4 Overall. The Oklahoma Sooners will be the next stop for Humbert after she completes her time at Gonzaga Prep. Oklahoma plays in the Big 12 Conference, but the coaching staff has a heavy West Coast presence with Aaron Mansfield previously coaching at Loyola Marymount and assistant coaches also from the West. Oklahoma Recruiting coordinator Meredith Teague was a star middle blocker for Monroe High School and played for Washington Volleyball Academy- the program is on the way up, and Humbert is a talented, smart, tireless worker who should be a perfect fit in Norman. <br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='702559' first='Alexandra' last='Pelesasa']<br>| 6'0" | #10 Overall. Pelesasa is always bringing the fire, and we are waiting to see if that might be on the pin at some point this season. She has a hammer of an arm, yet she isn't all power. She makes all the right plays, playing hustling defense, bettering the ball, and keeping her team's energy high. Wouldn't that be great to see on the floor all the time? <br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='711121' first='Wakelea' last='Barkema']<br>| 6'0| #13 Overall. The Kings middle is patient, makes great moves as a blocker, and is very disciplined with her eyes when she is reading opposing teams. Barkema has the hands and power to finish off a block for a point when she tracks down a hitter, and she can finish off an overpass with two hands or a huge swing effortlessly. She can shorten her steps in transition to make sure she is available to her setter somehow, and Barkema will generate a solid attempt off nearly any set she receives- no matter how challenging. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["891748"],"_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-6a9100c18e21e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Millenar makes a huge move in the latest rankings update, moving up to #14 overall. She has the length, movement, and power arm to contribute at a Division 1 program. We watched Millenar up close at Space Needle and the Prep Dig Summer Showcase, and she has excellent energy, power, and an emerging overall skill set at a true 6'2". </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["851294"],"_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-6a9100c18e2db"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Singh is closer to 6'2," and the Pullman High School prospect is well-trained and versatile; she could easily slide over and play the right side if needed. Her Mode 15 team had an outstanding season, and she never wore down, working at a high rate throughout the year. As with many young, long middles, her blocking is a bit ahead of her offense at this point. We expect her power and offensive game to take off with continued training and physicality this fall and into the club season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["708646"],"_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-6a9100c18e366"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A smooth athlete, Hirst is a scorer who has solid explosion off the floor and a fast arm swing. The 2028 prospect from Jackson is the #8 MB in the rankings and 21st overall. Hirst has excellent vision when she is running her routes- she is particularly effective scoring in the gap, and she will vary her swings to either corner and punch over a crafty tip when she has the defense playing back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["777794"],"_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-6a9100c18e3f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gioranson is a fun player to watch, and it's easy to see her team feed off her energy and passion for the game. She is aggressive and powerful with a short, fast swing, and she controls any joust or overpass at the net with decisive force. Goranson can power right through an unformed block, and she left many defenders watching her attack ricochet off hands or roll down their arms to the floor for a kill. She is the #12 MB in the 2028 rankings update. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2028","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"32924","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"29309","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a9100c18e657"} /-->