2022 Updated Rankings: Set The Table

<p>With sectionals beginning tomorrow night in certain pockets around the state, Indiana is ready to start the postseason. With our updated class of 2022 player rankings coinciding with the postseason, we felt it necessary to talk about our top five players available by position in this class. Here are our favorite setters and their sectional draws.</p> <p><strong>#5: [player_tooltip player_id="85808" first="Emily" last="Weber"], 5-11, Hamilton Southeastern</strong></p> <p>I had the opportunity to watch HSE play a bit ago, and watched Emily be part of a unique 6-2 I haven’t seen in a while; instead of adding another attacker, the setters were swapped out to be front row only. The method works well; not only do they have the defenders to play right back, but the middles they use both do quite well off of one foot. What does this mean for Emily? She is part of the program that is currently #1 in the state of Indiana, and go into their sectional at 22-0. She's smooth with her hands, blocks exceptionally well, and runs a quick offense regardless of where the pass is located. The Royals host their own sectional, and get the winner of Westfield and Carmel. It’s not as if this is a cakewalk; four of the top fifteen teams in the state are in this sectional.</p> <p><strong>#7: [player_tooltip player_id="85809" first="Grace" last="Reynolds"], 5-8, Martinsville</strong></p> <p>On the other end of the spectrum is Grace and the Artesians. Grace is more slight than Emily, but has softer hands that allow her location to be nearly perfect. Still, Martinsville holds an 18-9 record, the best they’ve done in some time, and get the winner of Columbus North (8-21) and East Central (16-9). Grace is THE setter for the Artesians, and their success goes directly through her. A possible sectional final against either Bloomington South or Columbus East will be a daunting task.</p> <p><strong>#8: [player_tooltip player_id="85810" first="Ella" last="Bostic"], 6-0, Carmel</strong></p> <p>Another setter from the section of death, Ella is Munciana-trained and, like Grace, is the reason for their success. The Greyhounds’ passing hasn’t been the greatest, yet Ella still manages to distribute an offense where four kids average over two kills per set, and her outsides are over three. The best part about all of this is that NONE of Carmel’s primary players are seniors, making the fall of 2020 a great dress rehearsal for what many believe to be a renaissance year in ’21. This is a 20-win team that can do some damage in the postseason, as the #1 team in the state awaits in the sectional semifinal.</p> <p><strong>#30: [player_tooltip player_id="93747" first="Reagan" last="Nuss"], 5-6, Brownstown Central</strong></p> <p>An all-state nominee last year, and the only setter on this list with a state championship trophy, Reagan is often overlooked because of her size. Part of me thinks that she uses that as motivation for her play, as she has given no reason whatsoever that there is a better option than her. She’s the hardest worker in the gym, and can get to tight passes better than you think. Big ’Rona has reared her ugly head this fall for B-town, but that hasn’t stopped Miss Nuss from being the main reason for their continued success. The 19-11 Braves don’t look to be too tested in their sectional, so we’re looking to their possible regional matchup against Cardinal Ritter as a serious test to their possible repeat.</p> <p><strong>#33: [player_tooltip player_id="107708" first="Gracie" last="Leffler"], 5-10, Shelbyville</strong></p> <p>A new kid on the block, so to speak, Gracie is the positive player that fits perfectly with what the Bears need. Better the bad pass? Check. Locate accurately for each undersized player? Double check. Always a positive influence on her teammates around her? Triple check. I love her attitude, I love her mentality, and I love her skill. Let’s hope it translates to that all-elusive sectional crown. Their matchup is against a Franklin Community (14-13) team that could give them fits. Beyond the Grizzly Cubs would be the Trojans of Center Grove, whom the Bears won’t see until the sectional title match. This sectional could be wide open.</p>