Out of Preseason and into Regular Season: ’24 Sharp Setters

There is so much that goes into being a setter and can go unnoticed by casual viewers. It's more than just running an offense or putting up hittable balls to your teammates. It takes great vision, IQ and consistency to make a setter stand out from the others. Especially for the 2024 class, the game has changed on a physical level during club season and that could be a hard learning curve for young setters. Here are the top seven uncommitted '24 setters in the Chicagoland area who took that challenge head-on and have not looked back:   Calli Kenny (S)- Willowbrook High School   What better way to start out than with a setter who can do it all? Calli's strength and high volleyball IQ help her play much bigger than she looks physically. Her athleticism can be seen in multiple ways on the court, whether it is in her quick defensive plays, transferring sets to her hitters from anywhere on the court, or being the kill leader on her team, she isn't afraid to take on whatever role is needed for her team. Calli's setting IQ has grown from running a number of competitive offenses and she has learned to utilize her elite understanding of the sport in each and every aspect of her game.   [player_tooltip player_id='135977' first='Kaitlyn' last='Dumpit'] (S)- St. Francis   Kaitlyn's quick-setting release and smart decisions cannot go unnoticed when she is running her offense. She is very fast on her feet and works very hard to get her hands on every ball to put up the best ball she can give her hitters. She gives more to her hitters than just generating holes in the block for them and giving them great options for their attacks. Her energy is contagious and she instills confidence in her teammates with her controlled yet empowering demeanor. She has great vision and is always able to find her hitters and put them in the best scenario to put the ball away.   Ella Strausberger (S)- Plainfield North High School   Ella's defensive read is the first thing that may stand out to you, as she is able to make defensive moves early and be one step ahead of the hitter picking up her tips over the block with ease, or cutting hard-driven balls off early. When she isn't stepping in to make aggressive defensive moves, she is setting consistent sets to her attackers from everywhere and always has their back on coverage. In addition, she is a very active setter when she is in the front row and is able to setter dump in many locations on the court. Since she is so active in the front row, she pulls the blockers away from her hitters, and when she recognizes those blocking adjustments being made, she quickly switches up her gameplan to give her hitters a range of swings to take.   [player_tooltip player_id='136602' first='Lucy' last='Russ'] (S)- ICCP   I first watched Lucy when she was competing in Indianapolis at GJNCs and was in awe of the way she controls her offense and court. Not only does she take control as a strong setter, but she also is able to keep it light with her teammates by giving them the confidence to bounce back after mistakes. She has grown to understand the smart setting decisions to make and put her teammates in the best position to succeed. While she does have a great understanding of how to run a successful offense, she does not lack in her defensive skills at all. She brings so much joy to the sport and to any team she is a part of, which makes her so fun to watch. Be sure to keep an eye on Lucy this season because you're going to want to be a part of where she brings ICCP this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='136626' first='Kiera' last='King'] (S)- Lincoln Central High School   Kiera is not afraid to take risks as a setter if she can get her hitters in a one-on-one situation. My favorite part about how she runs her offense is her deliberate decision to establish her middle hitters as an offensive threat to help open up the attacking options for her pins. On top of that, she can quickly expose blockers who are caught watching the ball too long with her quick and aggressive setter dump that is thrown in front of defenders or thrown into either corner of the court, making the defenders run all over to get a touch on her attack. Kiera works hard in every aspect of the game with great body control which eliminates any chaos that could take place on her court.   [player_tooltip player_id='135953' first='Kinsey' last='Smith'] (S)- Oak Park River Forest High School   After a very successful club season and finishing 5th at GJNCs, Kinsey is ready to run the show for Oak Park River Forest. Over the last 6 months playing with [player_tooltip player_id='135950' first='Grace' last='Nelson'] on 16 Gold, there is no doubt about her ability to bring OPRF towards the top this season. Her quick defensive adjustments keep her team alive and loves the opportunity to steal kills away from the opposing attackers. She has a very neutral setting release which usually works in the favor of her hitters, who are then given a hole to attack into. She is very receptive to feedback and is always wanting to make adjustments to put her hitters in the best position against when they are up against a block.   [player_tooltip player_id='136595' first='Jenna' last='Meitzler'] (S)- Barrington High School   Jenna's height is the first thing that you might notice about her. She is a 6'1" setter who is able to move athletically and think quickly on her feet. She has several setter dump locations in which she beats the block and defense, almost always making the ball find the floor. Whether it's an aggressive swing on the ball or a fast change of direction set to sideline zone 4 behind her, she has a toolbox filled with shots. She is comfortable and more than capable to go against the flow in a rally, forcing any blockers she is up against to think and move fast to close distances.

There is so much that goes into being a setter and can go unnoticed by casual viewers. It's more than just running an offense or putting up hittable balls to your teammates. It takes great vision, IQ and consistency to make a setter stand out from the others. Especially for the 2024 class, the game has changed on a physical level during club season and that could be a hard learning curve for young setters. Here are the top seven uncommitted '24 setters in the Chicagoland area who took that challenge head-on and have not looked back: