Setters Running the Show at the IHSA State Tournament
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I love taking a look at the setters at any state or high-level tournament. The connection they have to have with their hitters and athleticism is impressive. Many of them also play all six rotations. That is a huge physical…
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Continue ReadingI love taking a look at the setters at any state or high-level tournament. The connection they have to have with their hitters and athleticism is impressive. Many of them also play all six rotations. That is a huge physical and mental load on an athlete and these setters showed the grit and competitiveness needed to play at such a high level.
Calli is athletic and gritty. And as a Marquette Alum, I am excited to see the impact she will have for the Golde Eagles next year. Calli is a natural leader on the court and can play all six rotations. She set and hit for Willowbrook, opposite of her sister. In the 3rd place match-up, Calli led the team in kills, with 17, and hit 0.419. Absolutely incredible for an athlete who only hits half of the match. She also contributed 15 assists, 3 aces, and 8 digs in that match.
Ellie is an incredibly talented setter. She ran a 5-1 for Benet Academy and fed every single one of her hitters. Ellie has a clean touch on the ball and has an amazing connection with her middles. She keeps every hitter involved and is tough for opposing hitters to read.
Highlights
Peyton Heatherly
Peyton Heatherly
Peyton is only a freshman but led her team to a Class 4A State Championship. She is clean, talented, and very smart. She plays at such a high level and led her team through an incredible season. Peyton had 32 assists and 13 digs in the championship match. She averaged nearly 11 assists per set this season and had over 700 assists. She is a player to watch in this class as she is sure to have a huge impact at a state level for years to come.
Though Jenna was more of a hitter for Barrington, I want to mention her here because she has amazing court awareness and a high volleyball IQ. She will be fun to watch as she enters the Big 10 next season. She was a clear leader for Barrington and executed well on offense.
Gwen ran the offense for Barrington. She had 25 assists in the 3rd place matchup and spread her offense well. Gwen fed her hot hitter, typically Jenna Meitzler Jenna Meitzler 6’1″ | S Barrington | 2024 State #117 Nation IL , and was just so smart with the ball. She did the work to put up great sets for her teammates and then let her offense go to work.
Audrey is an energetic setter who keeps the ball moving. She played across the back row, and every time she subbed into the game, there was a spark on the court. She has a competitive serve and used it to stay behind the service line for numerous points. Audrey had 18 assists, 10 digs, and an ace in the semifinal match. She also was key in their 3rd place match on Saturday.
Highlights
Kaitlyn is an absolute gamer. She is fast, makes great decisions, and moves the ball around with speed and efficiency. She has an impressive jump set and was very hard to read. Kaitlyn is a huge energizer on the court and keeps every athlete involved on the court. She had 20 assists in the semifinal match and 19 assists in the state championship match.
Lucy is a leader and a fun setter to watch. She is very offensive on the court and has a huge lefty swing. In the state semifinal match, Lucy had seven kills and 22 assists. She hit a 0.667. Lucy is very smart and she kept opposing defenders on their toes.