Fischer and Goetzinger: 2 Breakout Middle Blockers from the 2025 season
Two young pros played their first full professional competition seasons during the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship and proved that they’re rising stars to watch. Both were middle blockers who held their own against veteran talent and players with extensive pro experience, and established themselves as legitimate forces on the pro scene.
Elise Goetzinger and Sophie Fischer entered the fall with impressive college resumes but weren’t quite household names in pro volleyball–yet. After their performances in Madison and Omaha, they gave fans plenty to look forward to in the years to come.
Elise Goetzinger
Elise Goetzinger joined AU Pro Volleyball’s 2025 roster as a late addition after an injury created an opening shortly before players reported for the season. The last-second signing didn’t faze her, and she still entered the competition in top form.
She started on opening night for Team Abercrombie while veteran middle Emily Thater missed the match for a prearranged commitment. And Goetzinger didn’t just fill in. She delivered a statement debut performance. She opened the season with eight kills (her season high), 2.67 kills per set, and an impressive .890 hitting percentage on nine attempts with no errors. She also added one block.
Elise says NO 🙅♀️@EliseGoetzinger | @CreightonVB pic.twitter.com/bqaAY5RhVJ
— AU Pro Volleyball (@AUProVolleyball) October 4, 2025
Goetzinger took on a supporting role throughout the season while learning from more experienced pros, but she made an impact in each of her four match appearances. She posted two three-block performances during the fall and finished with 1.18 kills per set, two aces, and 0.64 blocks per set.
The Creighton and Kentucky alum capped her college career with a stellar 2024 season at Creighton, where she became one of the BIG EAST’s most dominant middle blockers. She earned All-BIG EAST and AVCA All-West Region honors, was named AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, and led the conference in hitting percentage. Her .376 mark set a school record and ranked 37th nationally.
Before transferring to Creighton, Goetzinger spent four seasons at Kentucky, where she played a pivotal role in the Wildcats’ 2020 NCAA championship run. She started all five tournament matches that spring, contributing three kills and three blocks on .400 hitting in the title win over Texas.
Goetzinger has signed with the Omaha Supernovas for the 2026 Major League Volleyball season. If her debut pro performance in AU is any indication, there’s likely much more in store for her as she adds to her resume this winter.
Sophie Fischer
Sophie Fischer missed most of her first pro season with LOVB Salt Lake due to personal reasons, making AU her next opportunity to prove herself, and she seized the moment. The middle blocker made an immediate impression and earned MVP 1 honors during a stellar Week One showing.
Fischer dominated in her first full pro season, recording 24 total blocks (third-best in the league) despite splitting playing time in some matches. She registered blocks in eight of the season’s 12 matches, posting high volumes when she played. Her best performance came in Week Two with a season-high six blocks versus Team Valentin-Anderson.
DENIED 🚫 by Sophie Fischer#AUProVB pic.twitter.com/WEwfVWV72g
— AU Pro Volleyball (@AUProVolleyball) October 9, 2025
Fischer’s 24 blocks marked the highest total of any AU rookie this fall, and her 0.73 blocks-per-set average ranked second in the league. She showed off her effectiveness from the service line, and at the end of the season, she stood second in the league in aces.
Before starting her pro career, the University of Georgia standout capped her college career with multiple accolades, including 2023 SEC Player of the Year and AVCA Second Team All-American honors. She was also a three-time All-SEC honoree and played a key role in the U.S. Women’s National Team’s silver medal finish at the 2024 NORCECA Pan American Cup Final Six.
Fischer left Georgia as the program’s all-time leader in block assists and blocks per set. And after this fall’s standout rookie performance, she’s poised to chase more records and carry her AU success into the 2026 LOVB season, where she’ll return to LOVB Salt Lake alongside 11 other 2025 AU Pro Volleyball participants.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
