Updated ’25 Rankings: Middle Blockers
In this article:
The 2025 class is stacked with some really big talent. It doesn’t just stop in the first 10 players. The more we see the more we add to our rankings and here are seven middles you should have on your…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2025 class is stacked with some really big talent. It doesn’t just stop in the first 10 players. The more we see the more we add to our rankings and here are seven middles you should have on your radar this fall.
Tompkins is super terminal from behind the setter whether she is running a slide route or attacking from the right side out of serve receive.
Roxberg is quick in her approach and she does a great job of getting that arm up, elbow high so she can take a monster swing. She works the angles really well and transitions hard every time. Time after time again she is making sure she is an option for her setter. Roxberg works against the flow and isn’t afraid to turn the ball to go after the opposing setter.
Passow is a little on the smaller side when it comes to middles but she is very quick laterally and does a nice job closing the block. And when she connects on a quick ball make sure you get 2 blockers on her because she can slice that ball hard and fast. Passow does a great job with spacing, finding the edges of the block, as well as knowing just when to tip. She gets a lot of touches and then has really quick reactions to land and get the ball back in play.
Steman approaches hard EVERY TIME. She can also terminate from the pin out of serve receive. Steman gets up in the air fast and takes a quick swing on the ball not allowing the opposing block much time to react.
Highlights
I really like how Haider-Harralson mixes up her shot selection. She can turn the ball to the 1 corner and she can attack behind the setter either using a slide route or out of serve receive. Haider-Harralson goes after deep corners as well as the short tip just behind the opposing block.
Highlights
Behrens has a whip for an arm! She has this long wingspan and when she starts her swing it has a chain reaction. Behrens can terminate from anywhere on the net and she is great about transitioning fast every time. She also does a nice job of working the angles off of the block.
Panagiotopoulos can see the future becuase she always seems to know how the play is going to develop and there she is! In the right spot at the right time! I love her high motor and her aggressive tactics. In club she plays middle but she can swing and terminate from anywhere on the net. She slices and dices around the block without taking any power off her swing. She just seems to explode off the ground and does such a great job getting on top of the ball.