Kansas Pace Setters: Five Assist Leaders From The KC Metro

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Honestly, for me, the setter position is the hardest to scout. Probably because I could never set. My playing career peaked in recreation sand volleyball as a stud server, with lackluster skills everywhere else.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just one inch or two can make the difference between a perfect set and one that throws off a hitter's timing. It is arguably the most underappreciated position on the court and often goes unnoticed except on bad sets.  Setters are like catchers in softball and baseball; no one notices the 100-plus solid catches behind the plate, only the passed balls, and missed blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, college programs are always looking for solid setters and players who are capable of being big hitters often move to setter because of team needs and athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at five setters in the Class of 2024 from Class 6A KC Metro schools in Kansas. Two of them to my knowledge have already verbally committed while the other three are still looking for college programs as they enter their senior seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='119693' first='Janelle' last='Green'], 5'9”, S/RS, Blue Valley North, [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Green was the unofficial pace setter for juniors from Class 6A. During her junior season, she finished with 564 assists. She can also serve as a right-side hitter and finished with 138 kills for Blue Valley North. She has a nice touch and communicates well with teammates. She plays club ball for [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] and has committed to play college ball at the University of Cincinnati.  Green is the No. 1 ranked setter in Kansas according to the Class of 2024 Prep Dig Rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='119724' first='Jillian' last='Huckabey'], 6'1”, S/OH, Olathe Northwest, [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huckabey finished among the top setters in Class 6A with 455 assists. She was also among the leaders in her class in kills with 257. She was immediately on the Prep Dig radar when the Kansas site was launched in 2020. Huckabey plays on a stacked [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] squad and has committed to play for Florida International University after graduation. She and her Owl teammates will have a state championship in their crosshairs in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='216374' first='Ava' last='Jones'], 5'6”, S, Mill Valley, [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones finished her junior season at Mill Valley with 437 assists. She also plays solid defense finishing with 139 digs for the Jaguars. Jones is the third player from the [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] club on this list, which just goes to show the depth of talent in that club. Jones as yet to commit to a college program, and will look to solidify her recruitment with a big senior season. Jones and her Mill Valley teammates finished fourth in the Class 6A State Championship tournament in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261101' first='Addisen' last='Horn'], 5'8”, S, Olathe Northwest, [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last='']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Horn is a gifted setter who plays for [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] during the club season. She played 22 fewer sets in her junior year, so her overall numbers decreased from 606 assists to 296 from her sophomore and junior seasons. She plays with and against awesome talent both during club and high school seasons. She is a fierce competitor and knows what it takes to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Riley Wibe</strong>, 5'5”, S, Olathe North, Legacy Juniors</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wibe finished with 295 assists during the 2022 campaign. She can easily get overlooked by players on more dominant club and high school teams. Wibe has a nice push to the pin and plays quality defense. She is uncommitted and could be a good fit for an NAIA or JUCO program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->