Rachel McCaulley Rachel McCaulley 5'10" | MB Pleasant Valley | 2028 State IA is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to her skills. Although middle seems to be her primary focus, she knows how to put a ball away from anywhere on the net. Her leaping ability and manipulation of the ball make her extremely hard to defend. McCaulley does a fantastic job of taking away a good amount of the court with her block and knows how to get her hands on the ball. She had made a lot of growth between her freshman and sophomore year, and I’m waiting for her to get back on that upward trend that I know she’s capable of.

McCaulley caught my attention when watching her compete at the M1 Rochester (MN) Elite Scrimmages in early January. She shined again at the Iowa Invitational later in the month. The Pleasant Valley sophomore brings athleticism and leaping ability to the middle of the net. They help her throw up an effective block with timing and court sense also aiding in the endeavor. McCaulley is dangerous on the attack, again, exploding off of the court and getting well above the net. The swing is powerful. She saw limited action on the PV varsity this past season, but with her skills and the Spartans’ graduation losses a breakout prep season in 2026 seems like a good bet.

Yesterday’s feature discussed a handful of standout middle blockers, but we still have more to add to that list. McCaulley was another Iowa Select 15 Mizuno standout who took advantage of Friday’s showcase and demonstrated her complete arsenal. She can generate positive block touches at the net to help her team in transition, and McCaulley is apt to convert on some of those transition opportunities, too. This imposing athlete is raring to join the Pleasant Valley lineup after the Spartans hoisted last year’s 5A title trophy.