Checking in on Nebraska’s 2024 Setters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's fit in a few more positional features this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This mid-season check-in series allows us to revisit our Nebraska rankings and identify some top performers in every position group. It also sets up a conversation for our ongoing push to update those rankings, and Nebraska's 2024s are constantly shuffling that deck.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today's spotlight is on the state's 2024 setters, a group that has always seemed to bring its best to the forefront.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Another Pledge!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We now have a perfect opportunity to acknowledge another 2024 commitment in the Cornhusker State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='104989' first='Malayah' last='Long'] kicked off her junior prep campaign by announcing her college pledge to perennial Big East contender Marquette. That big commitment hasn't slowed down Long's high school production, either, as the Silver Hawks have put together some brilliant performances with this physical setter leading the charge. Long's all-around skills, including some experience as a frontcourt attacker, will serve her well when she transitions from the Silver Hawks to the Golden Eagles. (That mascot transition is fun, the more I think about it.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Around the Block</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, let's take some stock in some of Nebraska's vast collection of talented 2024 setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've mentioned in some previous features that [player_tooltip player_id='109586' first='Reagan' last='Hickey'] has reclaimed her near-permanent spot near the top of Nebraska's assists leaderboard. She has a knack for giving her hitters consistent split-block opportunities, which is a surefire way to make a name for yourself as a setter. Hickey has that covered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In fact, while we're talking about the state's assists leaders, the overall standings feature a logjam of great 2024 athletes. Lincoln East's [player_tooltip player_id='109601' first='Aaliyah' last='Bradford'] remains a torchbearer for this top group, which is no surprise given her history of success and the resurgence that the Spartans have seen in 2022. Likewise, [player_tooltip player_id='109593' first='Reese' last='Booth'] is back to leading a championship frontrunner with Class B's Elkhorn North off to a 13-2 start. That blazing Wolves offense owes a lot of its success to Booth's distribution.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":229241,"width":447,"height":293,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/IMG_9871-scaled-crop-1175x772-1663995683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-229241" width="447" height="293"/><figcaption>Booth competes with Elkhorn North at the 2022 Bellevue West Invite.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The parallel journeys of [player_tooltip player_id='152907' first='Ali' last='Bruning'] and [player_tooltip player_id='187798' first='Caylee' last='Rowley'] have been fun to follow this fall. Both setters have been running efficient offenses for Nebraska Christian and Waverly, respectively, after the pair competed on the same VCNebraska 16 Elite team during the spring. This pair of dynamic setters will never cease to impress me with their constant development and leadership at the setter position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>More Emerging Names</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school season invariably gives us an opportunity to add some new names to our big board. That is certainly the case with Nebraska's 2024 setters, as many under-the-radar athletes are making their presence felt this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delaney Frahm is having an excellent junior campaign for Elmwood-Murdock, a team looking to get back to the postseason after making some noise in Lincoln a year ago. There are some new faces taking swings for the Knights in 2022, but that hasn't stopped Frahm from continuing her run as one of small-town Nebraska's most skilled and productive setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grand Island keeps improving in early-season action, and junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='104980' first='Lauren' last='Taylor'] has been a great catalyst for that success. This feature role as the Islander setter is a new development for Taylor, but she clearly hasn't been taken aback by the increased responsibilities. In the ultra-competitive expanse that is Class A, we can't forget about talented players like Taylor making a huge impact at GISH.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ord's Brooke Fox is another junior setter who has taken the reins of her team's offense for the first time in 2022. She has previously displayed her defensive prowess in the Chanticleer lineup, but backcourt defense is clearly not the only thing that Fox can bring to the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sienna West has returned to set the offense for Wausa, and the Vikings have quietly compiled a 9-2 record behind this savvy setter. And, like many of the players on this feature, West's unrelenting right-back defense has helped keep her team in some momentous rallies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->