6-foot-8 high school middle blocker goes viral after dominant performance
Ryanne Brubaker, 16, has helped Grundy Center remain unbeaten while social media reacts to her size and reach
A 16-year-old high school volleyball player listed at 6 feet 8 inches went viral after footage of her dominating a match circulated on social media.
Ryanne Brubaker, a middle blocker for Grundy Center High School, recorded 80 kills in 25 sets during the 2025 season and has been a central figure as the Spartans compiled a 9-0 record. Clips shared by fans and the school show Brubaker towering over opponents and striking the ball from near the top of the net.
School footage posted by the Spartans indicated Brubaker reached 10 feet 4 inches in the air on some plays. Stat lines from the season include two matches in which she registered 19 kills, once against Gladbrook-Reinbeck and once against AGWSR. Social media users labelled her a "cheat code" as clips of her blocks and spikes spread online.
Brubaker had been listed at 6 feet 7 inches on the roster as a sophomore; the Spartans now list her at 6 feet 8 inches. Her parents have posted photos with matching "Tall Daughter Club" shirts, highlighting the family's height. Observers pointed out that her listed height would tie her with the tallest players on the U.S. Women's National Team.
High school girls' net height in organized play is 7 feet 4 1/8 inches; Brubaker's reported vertical reach places her striking point well above that standard, a factor that shows in the game footage and in her statistical production.
The Spartans' undefeated start has coincided with Brubaker's emergence as a focal point of the offense and a deterrent at the net. Coaches and teammates have not been quoted in the available footage and posts, and the school has not issued an additional statement beyond publishing game clips and roster information.
The viral attention follows a growing trend of standout high school athletes gaining national notice through social media highlights. Brubaker's size and statistics have drawn comparisons to collegiate and international players, while also prompting discussions online about how rare such height is at the high school level.
Game logs and team records list Brubaker's season totals and match-by-match performances. As the Spartans continue their season, her production and the team's results will provide further context to the attention prompted by the viral clips.