GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Middle blocker Alyssa Jensen will return to the Grand Rapids Rise for the 2026 Major League Volleyball season, signing with the franchise for a third year. She is currently the only player to have been with the team since its inaugural season and returns alongside Carli Snyder and Paige Briggs-Romine, both of whom are on two-year contracts.
“Alyssa has been a mainstay for the Rise, and we’ve seen tremendous growth in her game from year one to year two,” said Rise head coach and VP of volleyball operations Cathy George. “She’s established herself as one of the top blockers in the league, and each time she steps on the court, she continues to elevate her performance. We’re excited to have her back as she builds on that momentum this season.”
In the 2025 season, Jensen appeared in 22 matches and played 71 sets, finishing with 88 kills on a .253 hitting percentage. She added 64 blocks, 50 digs, and four aces, recording three or more blocks in 15 matches. Her season-high performance came on March 9 in a 3-1 win over the San Diego Mojo, when she posted six kills and six blocks.
Jensen made her professional debut with the Rise on March 4, 2024 at San Diego. In the inaugural 2024 season, she played in 13 matches (eight starts) and 31 sets, recording 25 kills, 19 blocks, 11 digs, and three aces.
Prior to her professional career, Jensen played four seasons at Michigan State University under George from 2014 to 2017. She finished her collegiate career with 1,002 kills and 521 blocks. In 2017, she was named to the AVCA Second Team All-America, First Team AVCA All-North Region, First Team All-Big Ten, and was named MVP for the Spartans. She ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 25th nationally with 1.35 blocks per set during the 2017 campaign.
Jensen was a Michigan Miss Volleyball finalist as a high school senior and earned All-State honors in her junior and senior years at Holland Christian High School. She was also a two-time Holland Sentinel Volleyball Player of the Year and collected All-Conference and All-Region honors all four years. Additionally, she was a conference champion all four seasons.
Additional roster announcements will be made throughout the free agency window as the Rise prepare for their third season, starting January 2026.
ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL
Major League Volleyball, entering its third season, is the longest-running formal professional volleyball league for women in the United States. Designed to elevate the sport through world class competition, commercial innovation, and cultural relevance, MLV brings together elite athletes, visionary leadership and global ambition. With alignment to USA Volleyball and a commitment to Olympic development, MLV serves as the premier pathway from professional play to the world stage. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.
ABOUT THE GRAND RAPIDS RISE
The Grand Rapids Rise made their debut in January 2024 and will play their third season in 2026 as members of Major League Volleyball. Led by longtime Michigan State and Western Michigan head coach Cathy George, the Rise reached the championship match during their inaugural season and rank among the top U.S. women’s pro volleyball teams in attendance. 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