2028 Rankings: Middles Commanding the Net This Fall

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">More than 150 college coaches shared this article. Join PrepDig and get 30% off with code "digdakotas30."</a>   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram @prepdigdakota.</a>   North Dakota's 2028 middle group is making some noise this fall. These athletes are getting off the floor, taking away space at the net, and becoming tougher to play against on both ends. Some are closing blocks and pressing over with purpose, while others are becoming legitimate scoring threats in transition and forcing defenses to respect the middle.   For college coaches still building their 2028 recruiting boards, there is size, athleticism, and plenty of upside in this group. We're digging into what each middle brings at the net, from footwork and blocking instincts to transition speed, attacking range, movement along the net, and the ability to score in different situations. The rankings are moving, and these middles are giving us plenty to talk about this fall.    [player_tooltip player_id='886194' first='Addison' last='Hunt'] has made a serious jump, and she is becoming a problem at the net. Her lateral speed immediately stands out. Hunt can fly from the middle to the pin, get closed, and put up a block that can completely change a hitter's swing. She has gone toe-to-toe with some bigger, physical attackers this fall already and shown that she doesn't need to match their size to shut them down. Her feet get her there, her timing puts her in position, and she's getting better at taking away space once she arrives. Add in the ability to play middle or right side, and there is a lot to work with. Hunt's rise in the rankings makes sense. Her strides are hard to miss, and right now she is playing like a 2028 front-row athlete whose stock should keep getting attention. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='783727' first='Finly' last='Grefsrud'] gives a setter options, and that makes her interesting at the next level. At 6'0", she brings size to the middle, but she can also move. Grefsrud gets across the net, closes, and can get strong touches against big swings. Offensively, she isn't tied to one route. She can run the quick, get behind on the slide, and find seams when the defense starts leaning. That attacking range forces blockers to make decisions instead of sitting on one ball. A 6'0" middle who can move and score from multiple routes gives an offense options, and that versatility is a big piece of Grefsrud's value. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     At 6'1", she [player_tooltip player_id='828392' first='Rylee' last='Seavert'] has the size that catches your attention, but it's how she moves with that size that separates her. She moves laterally quickly, gets established, and can close from the middle to either pin without leaving much room to work through. Seavert also plays fast offensively. She gets up quickly, stays available, and can force the opposing middle to honor her instead of releasing early to the pins. The combination of length, tempo, and disciplined movement gives Seavert a strong profile in this 2028 middle group. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='883393' first='Taya' last='Feist'] brings a motor to the middle that can make life difficult for hitters. She works to get across the net, gets square, and uses her hands to take away space instead of simply trying to get a touch. What also stands out is how quickly she works off the net and gets herself back into the offense. That matters when rallies get long, and the middle has to block, transition, and become an attacking option again. That motor, combined with how much ground she can cover at the net, gives Feist a chance to impact rallies in several different ways. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='883395' first='Andrea' last='Grijalva Delgado'] can make hitters work for their points. She covers ground along the net and can take away a lot of space when she gets there on time and presses across. There is value in a middle who can make an attacker change the original plan, whether that results in a stuff, a controlled touch, or a swing funneled toward the defense. Offensively, staying active in transition keeps Delgado available and gives the setter another option through the middle. The ability to take away space and make hitters adjust gives Delgado another layer to her game and plenty to keep tracking this fall. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='1041257' first='Aryah' last='Ross'] brings another type of value to the middle: disruption. Not every good block ends with the ball straight down. Ross can affect a rally by getting into the hitter's line, taking away space, and putting up a touch that gives her back row another chance to make a play. That presence matters, especially against teams that want to establish their pins early. Staying active in transition also gives Ross a chance to turn defense into offense instead of watching the play after she comes off the block. Ross shows why evaluating a middle goes beyond stuff blocks; her ability to disrupt swings and create playable touches can change rallies. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='874842' first='Olivia' last='Burrer'] can be disruptive at the net. She reads the attack, gets off the ground quickly, and has a knack for getting herself in the right place to take away a hitter's best option. Burrer plays with good timing and isn't afraid to press into a big swing, creating touches that can completely change a rally. That quickness carries over offensively, where she can get off the net, transition fast, and be back in the air before the block is fully organized. Burrer brings speed, instincts, and some fight to the middle, and when she gets rolling, she can make her presence felt on both sides of the net. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='736810' first='Eleanore' last='Christianson'] has made a noticeable jump at the net, and her blocking is starting to be a real part of her identity. Her footwork is quicker, she's getting across with more purpose, and most importantly, she's arriving in position to press and take away space rather than chasing the attack. Once she gets established, Christianson can make hitters adjust and create more opportunities to slow balls down or shut the swing down completely. Another layer to her ability to play middle and right side is her movement and blocking, which creates different front-row matchups. Christianson is playing faster, taking up more space and being way more disruptive at the net. That's also why her name still carries more weight in this 2028 group. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple: to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. Every player deserves a shot, and I'm honored to help tell their stories.</h2>   Please help us keep growing this positive platform for players by spreading the word and encouraging your friends to subscribe at PrepDig.com. With your support, we can create unforgettable memories and experiences!   The village, along with athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers, creates this journey.   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you for making it all possible! ~ Theresa Hickman</h4>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Follow on Instagram @prepdigdakotas.</h3>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Case You Missed It</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/image-8-2.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1020878" /></figure>

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