GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Rise have announced three roster moves to finalize their roster ahead of the season opener this Friday, Jan. 10 at the Vegas Thrill.
Setter MacKenzi Vazquez was waived, while libero Valeria León and opposite hitter Kaleigh Nelson were placed on the team’s practice squad. Per Pro Volleyball Federation rules, only 14 players can be on the active roster, with two additional spots designated for practice players.
The Rise’s 2025 roster is as follows:
| No. | Name | POS | HT | EXP | Hometown | Previous Team/University |
| 1 | Sherridan Atkinson | OPP | 6-5 | 7 | Long Beach, Calif. | Panathinaikos (Greece) / Purdue |
| 2 |
Elena Oglivie (uh-LEN-uh OAG-livee) |
L | 5-10 | 1 (R) | Honolulu, Hawaii | Stanford |
| 3 |
Valeria León^ (Vuh-lair-ee-uh Lee-ON) |
L | 5-6 | 8 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Columbus Fury (USA) / Ohio State |
| 4 | Carli Snyder | OH | 6-1 | 7 | Macomb, Mich. | V. Mulhouse Alsace (France) / Florida |
| 5 |
Erika Pritchard (PRIHT-churd) |
OH | 6-3 | 4 | Frederick, Md. | Grand Rapids Rise (USA) / Penn State |
| 6 | Kaleigh Nelson^ | OPP | 6-0 | 3 | Salem, Ore. | Engelholm VS (Sweden) / Washington |
| 7 | Raven Colvin | MB | 6-1 | 1 (R) | Indianapolis, Ind. | Purdue |
| 8 |
Marin Grote (MAIR-ihn GROHT) |
MB | 6-4 | 3 | Burbank, Calif. | G.R. Rise (USA) / Washington |
| 10 |
Ali Bastianelli (BAS-tee-uh-nell-ee) |
MB | 6-3 | 6 | Marysville, Mich. |
San Diego Mojo (USA) / Illinois |
| 11 |
August Raskie (RAH-skee) |
S | 6-2 | 6 | Colorado Spring, Colo. |
San Diego Mojo (USA) / Oregon |
| 13 |
Paige Briggs-Romine |
OH | 5-10 | 2 | Ortonville, Mich. |
Omaha Supernovas (USA) / W. Kentucky |
| 17 |
Alyssa Jensen |
MB | 6-4 | 2 | Holland, Mich. |
G.R. Rise (USA) / Michigan State |
| 19 |
Jena Otec (OH-tech) |
L | 5-10 | 1 (R) | Crystal City, Mo. |
Purdue |
| 21 |
Naya Shime (NY-uh sha-MAY) |
OPP | 6-0 | 1 (R) | Casper, Wyo. |
Southern Methodist |
| 22 |
Camryn Turner |
S | 5-8 | 1 (R) | Topeka, Kan. |
Kansas |
| 27 |
Symone Abbott (AB-iht) |
OH | 6-1 | 8 | Northville, Mich. |
G.R. Rise (USA) / Northwestern |
^ = Practice Squad
“It's never easy when the league requires us to trim the roster to certain numbers,” said Rise Head Coach and Vice President of Volleyball Operations Cathy George. “This was a very tough decision. Anyone who steps into our gym is an exceptional volleyball player.”
Vazquez, a native of Bolingbrook, Illinois, served as the Rise's director of volleyball operations last season after medically retiring from playing. She was working toward a return to the court this season.
“We are truly grateful for everything MacKenzi has contributed to our team and the League,” George said. “She’s part of an extraordinary group — the top 1 percent of the 1 percent who excelled in college and have worked tirelessly to compete at this level. Her dedication, both on and off the court, has made a lasting impact, and we wish her nothing but success in her future endeavors.”
A decorated collegiate athlete, Vazquez was a two-time AVCA All-American Honorable Mention (2016, 2019) and a two-time AVCA North All-Region selection during her standout career at Michigan. She earned First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2019 and was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2016. Over her four years with the Wolverines, she amassed 5,223 assists, ranking third on Michigan’s all-time list.
The Rise reached the PVF championship match last season with Vazquez on the coaching staff.
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is the leading professional volleyball league in the United States. PVF sets the standard for the sport, offering the largest number of franchises, unmatched attendance, extensive broadcast coverage and substantial championship prize money. It combines top-tier talent, including NCAA stars and international athletes, with cutting-edge production and technology to provide fans with an unmatched viewing experience. As a vital link between collegiate volleyball and the professional stage, PVF is dedicated to shaping the future of the sport and increasing visibility for its athletes. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.
ABOUT THE GRAND RAPIDS RISE
Founded in December 2022 as the first Pro Volleyball Federation franchise, the Grand Rapids Rise made their debut at Van Andel Arena on Jan. 25, 2024. Led by longtime Michigan State and Western Michigan head coach Cathy George, the Rise reached the championship match during their inaugural season. The team is operated by DP Fox Sports & Entertainment and owned by Dan DeVos, who is also majority owner and CEO of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins and minority owner of West Michigan Soccer, which will begin play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2027. Visit grrise.com for more information.
Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Rise