A Look at the Top 5 Middle Blockers in the 2025 Class: Michigan

<!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/top-250-expos/">Join us at the&nbsp;Prep Dig Top 250 Expo</a>!&nbsp;</em><em>Use code LShotVBExpo2023 for 10% off your registration fee.</em>&nbsp;(APPLICABLE TO ALL EXPOS)</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The latest rankings update is up and LIVE!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This has been a huge year for the class of 2025. After major club seasons, the floodgates have opened for recruiting to begin. With 21 of our top 30 ranked players committed, this has been a pretty crazy few months. On top of that, this junior class showed out during the high school season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all of the excitement from 2023 coming to a close, let's take a look at the top 5 middle blockers in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 4 [player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] - Bedford/Michigan Elite (Indiana)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 has been one explosive year for this middle blocker. Once a basketball starlet in Michigan, now a respected prospect in the nation for volleyball. [player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'], in her first ever club season, was a part of one of the top teams in the nation for th 16s age group. She would prove critical to the team's Runner-Up finish at AAU Nationals and Top Ten berth at USAVs. She would then go on to lead the charge at Bedford HS. A program already riddled with such rich-history, this season Gray made even more for the program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before being named a First Team All-State performer and being named SEC Player of the Year, [player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] committed to Indiana in mid-October. Gray's announcement came alongside several others in what could be one of IU's biggest recruiting classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 7 [player_tooltip player_id='156299' first='Olivia' last='Grenadier'] - Detroit Country Day/Legacy (Colorado)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='156299' first='Olivia' last='Grenadier'] has been a long-lasting starlet in this class of 2025. One of the most vital pieces to her club team this past Winter, we got to see all that Grenadier was made of. Arguably one of the most prolific middles in the country for 16s, this middle was unstoppable in her scoring abilities. No matter what court she steps on, Grenadier takes over. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see much of her this past fall. Due to some injuries, Grenadier was absent for the bulk of the fall for DCD. All in preparation for another big club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right on the cusp of the fall season, we got word that Grenadier would be heading to the mountains of the Big XII. In early July, Grenadier announced she'll be playing for the University of Colorado in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 8 [player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] - Cass City/Michigan Elite (Texas Tech)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is another top ten ranked player that has only played ONE season of club ball. [player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] has curated quite the name for herself in the volleyball world in a short period of time. After earning All-State honors in volleyball, basketball, and softball; this past club season Ignash tacked on club to her schedule. Ignash was an immediate hit. Proving to be the missing piece that 16 Mizuno needed, her one footed attack was unstoppable. After helping guide 16 Mizuno to an AAU Title game, Ignash would do the same in the fall with Cass City. She would lead the Hawks to their second straight Division 3 Final Four appearance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a huge club season, Ignash announced her commitment to play at Texas Tech in 2025. Ignash's commitment to Tech joins a long-running list of Michigan Prep players heading to the Big XII. A now growing pipeline in this mega-conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 10 [player_tooltip player_id='443826' first='Jordyn' last='Hughes'] - Portage Northern/Dead Frog (UConn)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This player has been steadily on the rise for quite some time now. She just keeps getting better and better. Who's to say if we have seen her best volleyball yet?! [player_tooltip player_id='443826' first='Jordyn' last='Hughes'] had a sensational 2023 year. In such a stacked class, Michigan was everywhere in the 16s division this year. Hughes was one of those talented players leading the charge. In 16 Premier at AAU Nationals, this player was vital in Dead Frog's Top 5 finish. Somehow not named an All-American, Hughes was a shining star nonetheless. She then followed this up with an unprecedented post-season run this past November with Portage Northern. The Huskies marched all the way to an Elite 8 finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, this player is quite the exciting one. A kid that has an indefinite ceiling. So, the anticipation was high on what program would pick her up. But Hughes will be heading to the Big East to play for UConn in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 15 [player_tooltip player_id='288946' first='Alana' last='Bailey'] - East Kentwood/FaR Out (Uncommitted)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, this player may be young, but she's got some mad skill! One of the few players in the 2025 class that was young enough to play down an age division, [player_tooltip player_id='288946' first='Alana' last='Bailey'] was a dominating force in the 15 Open. It also shows you how stacked the rosters were over at FaR Out. Much like her counterparts, Bailey was a critical piece from all aspects of her net play in leading 15 Black to a top 5 finish in 15 Open at AAUs this Summer. She then would follow up with a very great showing with an up-and-coming East Kentwood squad this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Currently, Bailey is still uncommitted. A status I don't think we should expect to stand for much longer. She'll be making the BIG jump to play for FaR Out's 18 Black team this coming club season. A squad that has done some pretty gnarling things in 2023 and bring back a bulk of those talents to 2024!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->