Top Setters to Watch at AAUs
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We’ve written about the top middles and pin hitters to watch in AAUs. Now it is time to identify some of my favorite setters in the DMV area possibly showing off their talents at AAU. We recently wrote an article…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve written about the top middles and pin hitters to watch in AAUs. Now it is time to identify some of my favorite setters in the DMV area possibly showing off their talents at AAU. We recently wrote an article about the top ten setters who play six rotations and many of the same setters are discussed below. You can find that article here Ten Setters Who Play All Six Rotations – Prep Dig
Isabel Ostvig Isabel Ostvig 5'10" | S Colonial Forge | 2024 State VA (Virginia Jrs/Colonial Forge) and Jaylyn Simon Jaylyn Simon 5'9" | S Holy Cross | 2024 State VA (Virginia Jrs/Holy Cross)- Virginia Juniors has been accepted to play in the 17 Premier in AAUs. They are also playing in the Freedom Division at the USAV Junior Nationals. That will be a lot of volleyball in one week. Don’t know if the 5’10” Isabel or the 5’9″ Jaelyn will be competing in both. Isabel has committed to UMBC. She has the athleticism to do things other setters can only think about. She sets a 6/2 but stays in the front row where she is an offensive weapon. Her smoothness at jump setting would make her a terror with a 5/1. Jaylyn can also distribute the ball, as well as hit in the front row. She has yet to commit. They are a fun pair to watch.
MacKenzie Calhoun MacKenzie Calhoun 5'10" | S River Hill | 2024 State VA (Columbia Academy/River Hill) – Another fun setter to watch. She sets a 5/1, always seems to be in a position to use her hands and jump sets often. At 5’9″ she can also do some damage in the front row. In high school as a sophomore, she finished with over 400 kills. A sharp volleyball IQ, she knows where to distribute her sets to achieve the most success. Columbia will be competing in the 17 Premier in AAUs.
Chloe Hokenson Chloe Hokenson 6'1" | S Langley | 2024 State VA (Virginia Elite/Langley) – At 6’1″ she brings the height to be a dominating right side. At Langley she set a 6/2 and hit while in the front row. For Virginia Elite she focuses on setting. Virginia Elite will compete in the Open Division at AAUs.
Ankita Kamath Ankita Kamath 5'6" | S Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA (DMV Elite/Rock Ridge) – A smaller setter at 5’6″. Despite that height coaches use her in a 5/1 because of the accuracy and consistency of her sets. Very cerebral in the choices she makes and a silent leader on the floor. She uses all areas of the net to keep defenses guessing. A Division III program might find her of interest. DMV Elite will also play in the 17 Premier Division.
Isabella Kvetensky Isabella Kvetensky 5'10" | S Monacan | 2024 State VA (Richmond Volleyball Club/Monacan) – At 5’10” she can play the front row. From what I’ve seen she does not run a lot of quick sets with her middles. Her tempo with the pin hitters is good and the higher sets in the middle still result in kills. She does like to set the slide to the middle when she is setting from the front row. Richmond Volleyball will be playing in the 17 Premier.
Peyton McGee Peyton McGee 5'10" | S Norfolk Academy | 2025 State VA (Beach Elite/Norfolk Academy) – For her high school she hit right side. Despite her 5’9″ height she approaches 9’7″ with a strong right arm that can bury the ball to the floor. She also plays a lot of beach which enhances her overall skills. Beach Elite uses her as a setter, usually setting her in a 6’2. She belongs to the class of 2025 but plays up with the 17s. Beach Elite plays in the 17 Premier.
Highlights
Adalene Rodgers Adalene Rodgers 5'11" | RS Potomac | 2025 State VA (Virginia Elite/Potomac) and Evelyn Jurden Evelyn Jurden 6'2" | RS West Springfield | 2025 State VA (Virginia Elite/West Springfield) – Shylah Swope Shylah Swope 5'10" | S Herndon | 2025 State VA normally sets for Virginia Elite in a 5/1, but she will not be available for AAUs. This leaves the 5’10 Adalena, who set well for Potomac when I watched her or the 6’2″ Evelyn Jurden Evelyn Jurden 6'2" | RS West Springfield | 2025 State VA , who normally plays right side but has been used as a setter. Perhaps they will use both. Evelyn has the highest approach jump on the team, just short of 10 feet. These two could run a 6/2 or stay with a 5/1 and set whoever works the best with the hitters. Virginia Elite will be playing in 16 Open.
Michelle Kim Michelle Kim 5'8" | S Rock Ridge | 2025 State VA (VAVA Blue/Rock Ridge) – A sleeper pick. Ankita Kamath Ankita Kamath 5'6" | S Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA set a 5/1 for Rock Ridge in the game I saw, while the 5’8″ Michelle played right side. The setting game appears to be fairly new to Michelle so only improvement can be expected as she learns the game. She likes to run the quicks in the middle, spreading out the block with sets to various areas of the net. VAVA Blue will be playing in the 16 Premier.
Highlights
Sofie Ferrell Sofie Ferrell 5'9" | S Woodson | 2026 State VA (Virginia Elite/Woodson) – The 5’9″ Sofie did not get a lot of opportunity to set as a frosh for Woodson. When she came in to set she showed good hands and fluid movements. Her sets show variety, with quicks, three meter attacks and shoots. It would not surprise me to see her used in a 5/1. For the Class of 2026 she ranks as the number 2 setter in the Virginia area. Clearly, someone to keep an eye on. Virginia Elite plays in the 15 Open.
Highlights
Olivia LeBlanc Olivia LeBlanc 5'7" | S Paul VI | 2026 State VA (VAVA/St. Pual VI) – As a frosh she set the Paul VI junior varsity team to an undefeated season. With VAVA it appears she runs a few more quicks and is learning to become more adaptive with the distribution of her sets. She runs a 6/2, coming out when she gets to the front row. Olivia stands just 5’7″. VAVA Blue is playing in the 15 Premier.
Anasofia Zanellato Anasofia Zanellato 6'0" | S Academy Of The Holy Cross | 2026 State VA (Virginia Jrs./Madison) – She has missed a few tournaments while she nurses an ankle injury. Don’t know if she will be available for AAUs. She stands 6’0″ and sets when she gets in the front row. A smaller setter ( Sydney Ray Sydney Ray 5'7" | S Riverside | 2026 State VA ) comes in for her in the back row. The Virginia Jrs 15 team will play in 15 Aspire.