20 Setters Running the Show at USAV Nationals

<p>When it comes to playing nationally, setters are under a lot of pressure to perform. They are on the biggest stage with their team and are the quarterbacks on the court. These setters are running their offense efficiently and are having a huge impact at USAV Nationals this week. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='233278' first='Amalia' last='Toliopoulos'] - New Wave 15 Tsunami - 2026</h2>   <p>Amalia is a very talented setter. She puts up a great jump set, keeps her body neutral to hide her decisions, and fires off great tempo sets. She is a high-level player that swings in the front row. She is really talented in all her skills, manufacturing points, putting up a big block, picking up balls on defense, and of course, running the offense. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kennedy Walker - Uno Girls 15 Elite - 2026</h2>   <p>Kennedy is a clean and efficient setter who runs a fast tempo. She keeps her hitters moving and always gets her hands on the ball. She has huge hustle and grit is a nice leader on the court. Kennedy has a lot of potential and is playing at a high level at nationals so far this week. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='724547' first='Lily' last='Metropulos'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 15 National - 2027</h2>   <p>Lily is an athlete in the class of 2027 playing up an age division on Ice. She has really clean form and is quick on the court. Lily is very consistent and brings a steady and calm demeanor to the court. She doesn't get flustered easily and is an athlete I can't wait to see play in high school. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='490993' first='Isa' last='Hughes'] - Chicago Elite 15 Elite - 2026</h2>   <p>Isa stood out to me as a setter because she loves to feed her middles. They got a lot of contacts on the ball because she was not afraid to set them when she was off the net. Isa is a smart setter that keeps all over hitters involved but really relies on her middles to earn points. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='376303' first='Gracia' last='Dietrich'] - 1W Bay 15 National - 2026</h2>   <p>Gracia made her way onto my radar earlier this season, but this is the first time I have had the opportunity to see her play live. She is a lefty setter who has the potential to be an offensive and high-level setter. Gracia has clean hands and plays really scrappy defense. She is disciplined on the court and spreads her offense well. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='284075' first='Ruby' last='Friess'] - [program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'] 15 Black - 2026</h2>   <p>Ruby is running a 5-1 this weekend for Penguins and is playing some very clean volleyball. She has a quick touch on the ball and very solid fundamentals. Ruby never gives up on a ball and runs down even the toughest passes to better the ball for her team. She is a player to watch in this class and has had an impact early on in the high school volleyball world as well. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='504463' first='Lorelei' last='Candler'] - Madtown 15-1 National - 2026</h2>   <p>Lorelei impressed me because she is a solid setter and also an offensive weapon when she is in the front row. She gets a high volume of touches on the ball and is a consistent force on the court. Whether she is setting or hitting, Lorelei adds value in every touch she gets on the ball. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reese Oatsvall - [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last='']' last=''] G15 Purple Adidas - 2026</h2>   <p>Reese is a game-changing setter, and an athlete who has exploded onto my radar this week at nationals. She is an energizer and leader on the court. Her team runs a 6-2 with Reese and their other setter [player_tooltip player_id='763502' first='Anabelle' last='Olson'] (who is very talented in her own right). Reese comes in and changes the game when she comes on the court. She takes risks with her sets and commands the court as a leader. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='249636' first='Ava' last='Van Hammond'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] Elite 15 Navy - 2026</h2>   <p>I saw Ava play earlier this season and she was talented, but she has completely leveled up her game over the course of a few months. She plays with huge energy and has a quick release on the ball. Ava moves the ball around with tempo and finesse. [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] setters are just so well trained and it shows in her play on the court. Ava is gritty, confident, and smart with her choices. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='504450' first='Samantha' last='Unger'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 15 White - 2026</h2>   <p>Samantha is another [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite']-trained setter that commands the court. She is an energizer and never backs down in a play. Samantha has seemingly endless energy and balances being smart and safe with the ball and taking risks to give her hitters a solo block. Samantha sees the court and the game very well and was impressive when I saw her play on day 1 of nationals. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='249633' first='Anya' last='Mikhailenko'] - Sting 15 Black - 2026</h2>   <p>Anya exploded onto my radar at the Prep Dig Gauntlet and has only continued to impress. She is smart, athletic, and has great court awareness. She mixes up her sets, has great form, and puts a fast tempo on the ball. Anya rarely makes an error and typically plays all 6 rotations, hitting right side in the front row. Her versatility and consistency make her hard to take off the court. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='277423' first='Ella' last='Kohnen'] - Sting 15 Gold - 2026</h2>   <p>Ella has been a huge leader on this team, both as a setter and a right side. She has a massive vertical and is a very well-rounded athlete. Ella is a gamer who steps up in big moments to make momentum-changing plays. She elevates the game of those around her and is a fun setter to watch move the ball around. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='249644' first='Brooke' last='Baldwin'] - Sting 15 Gold - 2026</h2>   <p>Brooke is a savvy setter with a high volleyball IQ. She gets her feet to the ball fast and is a consistent force on the court. She also typically plays 6 rotations, swinging on the right side in the front row. Brooke has a lot of power and can move the ball around from pin to pin with seeming ease. She is one of the top athletes in this class and continues to elevate her game. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='247272' first='Sari' last='Marks'] - Sting United 15 Red - 2026 </h2>   <p>Sari has never looked better than she does right now. She brings huge energy and consistency. Her volleyball IQ is through the roof and she never misses a beat. She is aggressive and confident with her choices and is key in every way for her team. This Sting United team is exceptionally talented and Sari is a huge leader and point earner. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='325499' first='Jane' last='Jacobsen'] - Michio Chicago 15-1 National - 2026</h2>   <p>Michio is the only 15s team out of Wisconsin and Illinois to qualify open, and Jane runs the show on this team. She is a talented setter that runs a 5-1. Jane is gritty on the court and moves the ball around efficiently. She has a great connection with all of her hitters and almost always gets positive touches on the ball. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='323925' first='Nikolija' last='Bulatovic'] - 1st Alliance 15 Gold - 2026</h2>   <p>Nikolija is a very talented setter with a lot of experience running a 5-1. She is aggressive, confident, and feeds her hitters near-perfect sets. She brings consistency and energy to the court. Nikolija is offensive as a setter too, she knows when to push the ball over the net on the second contact to earn points. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Delaney Purtill - 1st Alliance 15 White - 2026</h2>   <p>Delaney runs a very fast offense. She has clean hands and sees opposing blockers well. She sets against the grain to force a solo block for her hitters and is very energetic and gritty on the court. Delaney impressed me over and over again with her good choices, court awareness, and leadership. She is a setter to watch that is playing very high-level volleyball at nationals this week. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='277435' first='Hannah' last='Padilla'] - [program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'] 15 Elite - 2026</h2>   <p>Hannah is a setter that has a lot of fun on the court. She amps up her team, gives them great balls to hit, and is always hustling. She gives full effort on every ball and it pays off in positive contacts for her hitters. She is a leader and energizer on the court. Hannah has a soft touch on the ball and loves to run her middles at a fast tempo. She is engaged and dynamic as a setter and runs the offense well. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Peyton Heatherly - Lions 14-1 - 2027</h2>   <p>Petyon is a highly talented setter who can also swing out of the front row. She is a smart setter and has a high volleyball IQ. Peyton is going to be a fun setter to watch as she continues to improve and impress. She is already making waves in the class of 2027 and hits all the right notes, from her form to her intangibles on the court. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='510469' first='Anna' last='Felton'] - [program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'] 14-Black - 2027</h2>   <p>Anna is an athlete with a lot of potential. She already runs the court well. She takes control of the offense when she is on the court and keeps all of her hitters engaged. Anna works hard on every point and will keep putting up positive touches for her team even in tough moments. She never gives up and leads by example whenever she is on the court. </p>

When it comes to playing nationally, setters are under a lot of pressure to perform. They are on the biggest stage with their team and are the quarterbacks on the court. These setters are running their offense efficiently and are having a huge impact at USAV Nationals this week.