2023 Setters Shine at Northern Lights Qualifier
Now that we’ve covered all the results and bids from an exciting weekend at the Northern Lights Qualifier, it’s time to go full speed into our player spotlights.
There are so many players to cover. This talent-rich field featured a great mixture of committed and uncommitted athletes, and we’ll be looking at both sides of this spectrum to talk about those who made the biggest impact in Omaha.
2023 setters are first up today. That choice might seem rather arbitrary, but there was a huge group of setters that stood out at NLQ. The Class of 2023 will be our primary focus for this one, but don’t be surprised if we discuss a few 2022 setters who are bound to make an early impact at the next level this fall. Stay tuned for more on that later in the week.
Now, here are those shining setters.
Kansas City Strength
It was hard not to be captivated by all the NLQ that was concentrated just in the Kansas City clubs. The setter position demonstrates this well.
Ashley Mullen continues to put together brilliant performances for Dynasty 17 Black. I remember being drawn to this talented setter when her Dynasty team made a trip to Omaha last year as 16s. Now, Mullen is committed to UCLA and continues to show why she’s one of the best setters in the 2023 class.
Sydney Draper is back in the KC Power 18-1 lineup, and she undoubtedly helps glue that whole team together. This is a 2023 prospect who has had no problem adjusting to the speed and physicality of the 18s game. Draper will take her skills all the way to the Ivy League with Princeton.
Of course, this discussion is not complete without Logan Jones, an Arkansas-bound setter who made some of the boldest plays we saw all weekend at NLQ. She is not afraid to set the ball against the grain and runs the MAVS KC offense with some serious pace. “Lo” just makes everyone better, and I can’t wait to watch her excel in Indianapolis this summer.
Quick Hitters, and Many More Names to Know
Our field of great setters is obviously not limited to Kansas City. Let’s go through some quick hitters and give you more names to know.
Ava Blascziek of Northern Lights 17-1 had a great showing in Omaha. Like many Lights setters of the past and present, Blascziek can sling the ball around with tempo and frequently puts her hitters in one-on-one or one-on-none scenarios.
Another setter from the Midwest who had some big moments is Reagan Angus from Iowa PowerPlex 17U Elite Black. Her team’s offense impressed many at NLQ, and Angus was an important leader as PowerPlex went 3-0 on opening day.
We’ve mentioned some big-time committed setters already on this feature, and you can add Baylor-bound Harley Kreck to the list. Skyline 17 Royal thrives off her aggressive style and an uncanny feel for tempo and placement. The Bears got a great one.
Jessica Shattles also deserves a nod in the “committed stars” conversation. The OTVA setter and future New Hampshire Wildcat is never afraid to feed the middles, and she did so with great success last weekend. She doesn’t even need a perfect pass to run a great offense.
NLQ gave me a first look at Ultimate Performance VBC, and Riley Roberts made some big plays for the Oklahoma team. She plays some stingy floor defense in addition to being a solid right-side blocker. These all-around traits will serve Roberts well as UPVBC continues to improve.
Speaking of clubs that are way outside my home ZIP code, SynergyForce of California had some standout moments and showed good depth on their 17 Jeff roster. The setter to note here is Katelyn Cochran, an athlete who has had ample experience in Team USA’s National Team Development Program. “KC” can make some incredible saves at the net on tight passes, and her length makes her a constant frontcourt threat.
There are still plenty more elite athletes that can be included here. Juliette Myrick (Army West Point) was as stout as ever for Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite, and Morgan Burke (Michigan) looks comfortable setting for Nebraska Elite 17-1 after a full high school season at the outside hitter spot. In all, it will be tough to match the setter talent that NLQ brought to Omaha.
Juliette Myrick (23) has been running a nice offense for Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite. Caroline Keithley also comes in to set in the back row and has some excellent touch. pic.twitter.com/PKu8DYQVLy
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) January 30, 2022