Top 5 Florida Setters – Class of 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we start to unpack the rankings for the class of 2025, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the top 5 setters in the state. I'm going to be focusing on players that I haven't already written about from my previous articles, mainly excluding the number 1 prospect and setter on my rankings [player_tooltip player_id='184108' first='Charlotte' last='Glass']. I want to give light on the next 5 setters who are going to be representing the state in my rankings. I plan on doing this for each position, excluding the players I have previously written about. The setter position is one that is not only one of the hardest to recruit, but probably the most important. The position is so technical and important to their team, which is why I wanted to highlight them first. When scouting the setter position, I mainly focus on three key aspects to their position. It starts with their technique, including their hands on the ball and their feet to the ball. The last two aspects are their IQ for the game and their consistency of ball location and tempo. All 5 of the setters I will be highlighting showed an elite skillset at all three aspects. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='203435' first='Ryan' last='Murphy'] - 6'2" @ JJVA (#5)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryan is an intriguing prospect and it starts with her height and length for the position. It's rare to see a setter at the same height or taller than her teammates, but she does a great job using that size to her advantage. The thing that I like the most is not just her sheer size but the ability to be agile and quick enough to get under the ball. Ryan's ability to get her feet there and disguise her set to defenses is one of my favorite parts of her game. She has really quick and soft hands so it comes out fluid and allows the hitter to really gauge the trajectory early off of her hands. One of the things that you wouldn't expect from such a tall setter is the willingness to play defense in the backrow, which she shows on film consistently. When she is in the front row, she can be an offensive option for her team on dumps but also a huge factor in the blocking game. Ryan is a great all around player but separates herself from her peers with the natural skill and size that most athletes her age don't possess. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='398692' first='Izzy' last='Mogridge'] - 5'10" @ OTVA (#11)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've had the pleasure of watching Izzy play for a few years now, and she's always been able to raise my expectation level. Not only is she a forced to be reckoned with as a hitter, but she takes control of the offense and the team as a leader and setter. She's the leader on the court that coaches long for having when recruiting, and to add all of the intangibles and skill she has is what makes her a top prospect not only in Florida but in the nation. When I watched Izzy even from a young age, it was such a eye opening experience to see the level of skill and understanding she has of the game. Her volleyball IQ and the understanding of spacing and tempo has been a staple of her game for years now. The best part about her game is her willingness to do whatever is going to help the team win the point or the game. She consistently shows the work ethic on defense and getting her feet to the ball when setting that her skills are undeniable. On top of the leadership and the IQ, her technique on setting is flawless. She does a great job of making last second adjustments to fool defenses while putting her hitters in better situations. I can't wait to watch her at the next level and see the impact she will make on the Oregon program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='455031' first='Josephine' last='Hensley'] - 6'1" @ No Name VBC (#17)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Josephine is a volleyball player first, doing whatever is needed from her team to be successful. This past year watching her at No Name, it's very apparent how much she understands the game and the positions they ask her to play. She may not be the fastest person ever, but her decision making and her footwork to the ball allows her to make cross court sets while being consistent with its location and tempo. Josephine has a great feel to the setter position. Her hands are so soft and gets the ball out of her hands so fast that it really forces defenses to have to cheat or to react to her set that she gives the hitters a lot of open space to hit. She does a great job of mixing up her tendencies as the defense starts to feel as though they're getting a read on her. My favorite part of her game is her willingness to hold her posture until the ball is about to hit her hands and uses her athleticism, footwork and strength to manipulate her sets to where she wants to go. She's not only an impressive setter but an all around volleyball player that any coach at the next level would love to mold and introduce into their culture and program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='455043' first='Sofia' last='King'] - 5'9" @ USA South (#28)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sofia is such a sneaky setter because of her ability to keep her hands up while being able to contort her body to push the ball to both ends of the court. She uses great footwork and rhythm to pull defenses in, and create spaces and holes in the defense she's facing against. Not only is her body positioning and hands great on setting, but she does a great job on the defensive side as well. You see consistently in film and in person that she is a willing defender in the backrow and a force to be reckoned with in the front row. Defensively she's not scared to hit the floor and trusts her teammates to be able to execute out of system. As a setter, one of the most impressive parts about her game is the ability to hold blockers with her hands staying high and her hips square to the outside. It forces the block across from her to stay neutral as she has the strength and the skill to push balls to all three hitters no matter the location of the pass. She shows the willingness to go away from the flow of offense to trick the defense as well as create better opportunities for her offense. She's the type of setter that a lot of college programs look for because of the total package she brings to the table. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='204098' first='Mikayla' last='Porter'] - 5'11" @ Wildfire (#31)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mikayla is a different size and strength profile than your typical setter. They use her a lot as a hitter in the front row on the right side, and utilize her skills as a setter in the backrow. She not only is great at controlling her offense but being a huge asset to that offense when she is on the hitting side. As a setter she has great rhythm and footwork to get under the ball quickly. Once she's under the ball, she keeps her hands high to keep defenses on their heels. Her release off of her sets are nice and quick, and is more than willing to be unconventional just to make sure the hitter she's setting is in good position to get the kill. Not only are her skills above par, but her effort and determination as a player to be the best she can for her team is one of the reasons why I see her so highly. She never gives up on plays and always tries her best to get her feet to the ball to get her hands on it, rather than being complacent with giving the hitter a higher ball to swing at. The most impressive part of her setting game to me has to be her eyework. She's one of the few prospects I have seen in a long time be able to check the defense and blockers before getting her hands on the ball to set. You see it consistently from the top setters in the world, and at such a young age she has been able to incorporate that skill into her game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The setter position has to be not only the hardest position to play but the hardest position to recruit. The things that really separate the prospects in this position is the versatility as a all around volleyball player or overall level of skill as a setter. All of these prospects have shown the skill, understanding, and athleticism to be able to succeed at the next level. In the next few articles I will be breaking down the 2025 rankings by position to really showcase who and why these athletes are such intriguing prospects for the next chapter of their volleyball career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->