Gloessner controls the net with her length and movement. She closes blocks well from pin to pin and consistently gets touches on balls. Her hands stay strong and pressed over the net, which makes life difficult for opposing hitters. Offensively, her slide stays quick and sharp. She attacks seams well and stays on tempo in faster systems.

Gloessner impacts the match across every phase, which makes her a clear No. 1 to start this list. Her length is disruptive at the net, where she covers pin-to-pin and stays pressed long enough to generate consistent touches and blocks. Offensively, her slide is fast and efficient, and she does a great job attacking seams with sharp timing. Her ability to influence both sides of the ball separates her early.

Gloessner is terminal across all phases of the game. Her length makes her a problem at the net, and she does a great job covering pin to pin as a blocker. She stays pressed over the net for as long as possible, creating touches and blocks even as she’s coming down. Offensively, her slide is sharp and quick. She consistently attacks seams and shows impressive reaction timing given the speed of the set.

Such a fun weekend getting a chance to see NORCO 17 Black compete at the Northern Lights Qualifier in 17 Open.  They found themselves in the third round of gold pools just finishing outside of a bid.  One of the big terminators of this group is Madlen Gloessner.  For those in Colorado I’m sure she is a high school volleyball household name, but she need to be one who the country knows about. She’s 6’5 and moves like a deer.  She’s smooth, she glides, and she can definitely leap.  My favorite was seeing her run a slide where it was game over for the other side once she swings.  There are flashes of another Colorado native who is starring at Nebraska – Andi Jackson.  Gloessner spent time on the U17 national team this fall and she will be one of the top priority middles for college coaches from the Class of 2028. 

At 6’6, Gloessner is already a strong presence on the court, and the numbers back it up. She is putting away 3.5 kills per set, with a .519 hitting percentage overall. Add her 2.2 blocks per set (39 total on the season) and you’ve got one of the most dominant middles in the state. Gloessner will be a key part for Lakewood for the next few years.

Standing at 6’5”, Madlen Gloessner Madlen Gloessner 6'6" | MB/OH Lakewood | 2028 CO immediately demands attention at the net—but it’s her timing, footwork, and court awareness that make her such a high-upside middle. She’s a true presence in the front row, consistently closing blocks and sealing seams with her lateral quickness. Offensively, she shows solid connection with setters and brings heat on the slide and quick attacks.

Watching her over the past year, Madlen has made noticeable strides in her transitions and reading hitters. She tracks the ball well out of the opponent’s hand and uses her length to control the net. Still developing, but with a rare blend of size and mobility, she’s a middle that should be firmly on the radar of college coaches building for the future.

~Theresa @prepdigdakotas