6-foot-8 Iowa junior goes viral as dominant force for undefeated high school volleyball team
Ryanne Brubaker, a 16-year-old middle blocker at Grundy Center, has 80 kills in 25 sets and is drawing national attention for her size and play.
Ryanne Brubaker, a 16-year-old junior at Grundy Center High School in Iowa, has emerged as a dominant middle blocker for the Spartans and is drawing national attention after clips of her play spread on social media. Brubaker, who lists her height on Instagram as 6-foot-8 and two-thirds inches, has recorded 80 kills in 25 sets in the 2025 season as Grundy Center opened the year undefeated.
The Spartans improved to 9-0 with a 3-0 victory over AGWSR on Thursday. Brubaker, who primarily came off the bench as a sophomore, is now a starter and has been highlighted by teammates, coaches and the program’s social accounts for her confidence and on-court production.
Brubaker plays the middle blocker position, a role that emphasizes net presence for both blocking and quick attacks. She set a Grundy Center record last month by reaching a touch height of 10-foot-4, a measurement that underscores her reach relative to a regulation girls high school net, which is set at 7-foot-4 and one-eighth inch.
The Spartans’ official X account posted in July, "Heck ya! We love how @RyanneB77326 owns her height!" Brubaker’s social posts and TikTok clips, including one that reads "Probably taller than you," have been widely shared, helping draw attention beyond the local community. Her parents have also embraced the spotlight, sharing images wearing shirts reading "Tall Daughter Club."
Coaches credited Brubaker’s development and the team’s depth for the early-season success. Officials and game statistics show Brubaker’s 80 kills have come in 25 sets, reflecting frequent involvement in Grundy Center’s offensive schemes. The Spartans have relied on a balanced attack and a blocking presence at the net to post consecutive wins this season.
Grundy Center is scheduled to play East Marshall on Sept. 23. As Brubaker and the Spartans continue their season, social media attention has followed each match, with highlights and clips amplifying interest in a player whose size and ability are uncommon at the high school level.
Observers noted that height is an observable advantage for middle blockers, allowing for higher blocking and attacking angles above the net, but performance metrics such as kills, blocks and match outcomes provide the measurable context for evaluating a player’s impact. Brubaker’s shift from a late-game specialist to a regular starter this season is reflected in her statistical output and the Spartans’ win-loss record.
The media attention has prompted local and national outlets to cover Brubaker’s progress, emphasizing verified details of her on-court achievements and the team’s results. Grundy Center’s undefeated start and Brubaker’s production will be followed as the season progresses and the Spartans meet region opponents in the coming weeks.