Rule of Thumb: Top Middle Blockers in 2022

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 2023 on the horizon, and 2022 nearing a close, it's time to take a look at some of the best this past year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting off in the Thumb of the Mitten state. Producing two teams to make it all the way to Kellogg and the second straight year having a team return as state champions is impressive. And there's a lot more where that came from.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breaking down some of the best of the best from the Thumb area. Here were some of the top middle blockers in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] - 6'1 MB - Cass City/Michigan Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":250417,"width":173,"height":179,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/11/13-Shelby-Ignash-scaled.jpg?w=982" alt="" class="wp-image-250417" width="173" height="179" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As only a sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] has quickly cemented herself as one of the best middle blockers in Michigan. With a hammer for an arm, Ignash off of one foot is deadly! Her prowess on the court was instrumental in Cass City's first Final Four run since 1977. Amassing over 500 kills and 300 digs, Ignash's versatility was huge in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Hope Schriber - 6'1 MB - Imlay City/Michigan Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the only teams in the area to hold a candle to North Branch's supremacy this season was Imlay City. <strong>Hope Schriber</strong>, in her senior season, was a key piece to this fight. A strong player in the middle with a lot of pop to her game, Schriber not only was a top point scorer for the Spartans, but a huge emotional leader on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='110287' first='Kaela' last='Chingwa'] - 6'2 MB - North Branch/Michigan Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You couldn't find a block much bigger than this one in 2022. With over 100 blocks on the season, [player_tooltip player_id='110287' first='Kaela' last='Chingwa'] was the first line of defense for the Broncos. Formidable to say the least, Chingwa's reach allowed her to do score with ease. Picking up the pace from her sophomore season, Chingwa hit over .340 during her junior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='257625' first='Natasha' last='Bickel'] - 5'11 MB - North Branch</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":248246,"width":156,"height":145,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/11/15-Natasha-Bickel-4-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-248246" width="156" height="145" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='257625' first='Natasha' last='Bickel']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Out goes Chingwa and in came [player_tooltip player_id='257625' first='Natasha' last='Bickel'], North Branch was never without a threat in the middle. While a great blocker in her own right, Bickel was the offensive middle for the Broncos. Another stellar one-footed bandit, Bickel was top notch when attacking on the slide. Hitting over .300 on the season, Bickel's best matches came in the Final Four rounds in North Branch's championship run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='172192' first='Katherine' last='Himmel'] - 6'0 MB - Bad Axe</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest reasons Bad Axe managed to grab a share of the Greater Thumb West title with Cass City this season was the comeback of [player_tooltip player_id='172192' first='Katherine' last='Himmel']. While a foot injury had Himmel sidelined during 2021, she returned in tip-top shape in 2022 and was monstrous. In the victory over Cass City during the regular season, Himmel had a career defining performance with 13 blocks in the upset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Gabby Martinez - 5'11 MB - Marlette</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming out of nowhere, Marlette owned the East Division of the Greater Thumb Conference. It was the domination of <strong>Gabby Martinez</strong> that sealed the deal for the Red Raiders. The team leader in kills, blocks and aces, Martinez was a scoring machine for Marlette. Not only did Martinez lead the Raiders to their first conference title since 2010, but their first Regional Final appearance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->