2024 Club Season Primer: Setter-Hitter Duos We're Excited to See

Here's one for the duos.   Just as we get used to the team dynamics of some of Nebraska's best high school teams, the club season comes around to shuffle the deck. We're about to see rivals from the fall season join forces for another year on the club trail, and we couldn't be more excited. So, as we continue our 2024 club previews, it's about time we lean into the dynamic duos we'll see throughout the season.   Setter-hitter combos will lead us off. As soon as the club campaign kicks off in 2024, the connections between these players will be under a microscope.     (S) [player_tooltip player_id='458131' first='Malorie' last='Boesiger'] & (MB) [player_tooltip player_id='189320' first='Natalie' last='Wardlow'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Synergy   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/DSC01512.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-399061" style="width:407px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wardlow</figcaption></figure>   It doesn't get much better.   Expectations have never been higher for this vaunted Synergy group, which is somehow already at the 17s level. Synergy reached brand new heights in 2023 with a podium finish in GJNC's 16 Open division, and unstoppable setter-hitter combos were a major factor. We're honing in on setter [player_tooltip player_id='458131' first='Malorie' last='Boesiger'] and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='189320' first='Natalie' last='Wardlow'] for this one, as both had breakout seasons en route to the USAV Nationals triumph.   Boesiger's command of the setter spot makes it easy to forget she's a Class of 2027 prospect who's two years younger than most of her 17 Open peers. She garnered GJNC all-tournament honors last year despite her youth, and Boesiger has a feel for tempo and location that lets all of her hitters thrive. Wardlow, a Wisconsin-bound middle blocker, is one of those attackers who dramatically elevated her game in 2023. Her innate connection with Boesiger was evident whether Wardlow was attacking on the quick or the slide. Good luck defending this tandem next year.     (S) [player_tooltip player_id='275901' first='Hayden' last='Booth'] & (OH) [player_tooltip player_id='275935' first='Addison' last='West'] - Premier Nebraska 16 Gold   Premier Nebraska 16 Gold is hoping to back up last year's Open bid by going back to back. This duo is ready to make it happen.   [player_tooltip player_id='275901' first='Hayden' last='Booth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='275935' first='Addison' last='West'] help demonstrate the bright future of Class B volleyball on the prep side. West locked up her second state title in as many years with Omaha Skutt Catholic while leading the SkyHawks in kills. Booth, meanwhile, showed her versatility at Elkhorn North by playing roles as a setter and a primary defensive specialist.   Now, these two rising 2026 stars join forces at Premier Nebraska. This group has a history of running a two-setter offense, but West's all-around role at the outside hitter spot ensures that Booth will always be able to find her high-flying outside hitter.     (S) Brooke Larsen & (OH) [player_tooltip player_id='155044' first='Elle' last='Heckenlively'] - Premier Nebraska 17 Gold   This should be a fun one.   Brooke Larsen's move to Premier 17 Gold is a game-changer. While we're listing her as a setter here, it's possible that Larsen could take on a dual role as a setter-hitter. Either way, it seems likely that Larsen will play some part in running the offense and distributing to 17 Gold's wealth of other talented attackers.   [player_tooltip player_id='155044' first='Elle' last='Heckenlively'] is one of those terminators that we'll be watching. Our early days of covering Heckenlively featured her hard-hitting attacking as a middle blocker. Now, she seems to be embracing a full-time niche as an outside hitter and is especially proficient in out-of-system situations. Bringing a new setter into the fold shouldn't slow her progress, particularly given Larsen's extraordinary leadership in past seasons with Premier Nebraska.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/IMG_7231-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-489750" style="width:416px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Merten</figcaption></figure>     (S) [player_tooltip player_id='253926' first='Lauren' last='Pearson'] & (MB) [player_tooltip player_id='342564' first='Katie' last='Merten'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Black   Here's another intra-club changeup at the setter position.   [player_tooltip player_id='253926' first='Lauren' last='Pearson'] dazzled us last year as a member of [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 15 Black, particularly as she lifted her team to a bid-earning performance at the GPR Bid Tournament. Her deceptiveness and feel for tempo were well beyond her years.   Now, Pearson will literally play beyond her years by making the jump from 15s to 17s. This puts her on the same side as [player_tooltip player_id='342564' first='Katie' last='Merten'], a dynamic middle blocker who just finished a breakout prep season with Lincoln East. She paced a strong Spartan block and provided instant energy with her terminal arm in front of the setter. That's where Pearson and Merten ought to establish a strong connection in 2024.     (S) [player_tooltip player_id='253922' first='Jadyn' last='Hazzard'] & (OH) [player_tooltip player_id='231947' first='Kaydence' last='Haase'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite   We'll keep perusing [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']'s rosters by bringing up a fun combo from different areas of the Nebraska prep landscape.   [player_tooltip player_id='253922' first='Jadyn' last='Hazzard'] is hoping to be the heir apparent at setter for Lincoln Southwest, which salutes outgoing senior [player_tooltip player_id='104989' first='Malayah' last='Long'] after the school's first-ever state championship. This savvy 2026 prospect is fresh on our minds after she participated in this month's Top 250 Expo. Hazzard's ability to set against the grain and make the difficult play immediately stood out at our showcase.   One of Hazzard's top targets with VCN 16 Elite will be [player_tooltip player_id='231947' first='Kaydence' last='Haase'], who just lit up the scoreboard with Exeter-Milligan/Friend once again. Haase put down 3.5 kills per set in her sophomore season and brings a wicked arm to 16 Elite's pin arsenal. Look out for this Hazzard-Haase pair as 16 Elite bolsters its offense for next season.     (S) [player_tooltip player_id='104674' first='Carolyn' last='Maser'] & (MB/RS) [player_tooltip player_id='105000' first='Celia' last='Spilker'] - Nebraska Juniors 18 Black   Nebraska Juniors always seems to bring its best at the 18s level, and that should be the case again with 18 Black's impressive collection of 2024 talent.   [player_tooltip player_id='104674' first='Carolyn' last='Maser']'s storied prep career will wrap up with this group, and we're excited to see her guide another high-powered offense before departing for Drake. One of her worthy frontcourt options is [player_tooltip player_id='105000' first='Celia' last='Spilker'], an Omaha commit who brings ample experience as a middle blocker or an opposite. She might even play both during her stint with 18 Black. Regardless, Maser and Spilker bring the kind of physicality that can intimidate any attacker looking to terminate against this Nebraska Juniors lineup.     (S) [player_tooltip player_id='189370' first='Julia' last='Ringenberg'] & (RS) [player_tooltip player_id='155047' first='Ashlyn' last='Paymal'] - Nebraska Elite 17-1   We'll wrap up with two big-time 2025s in the Nebraska Elite camp.   [player_tooltip player_id='189370' first='Julia' last='Ringenberg'] has been climbing the ladder with Nebraska Elite for a while, and it's all paying off with a chance to set for the club's top 17s group. She has already proven her worth in the Elkhorn South lineup and should only get better with more experience. It also helps that Ringenberg will be setting one of Nebraska's top 2025 attackers in Creighton commit [player_tooltip player_id='155047' first='Ashlyn' last='Paymal']. Paymal's natural position seems to be on the right, but we wouldn't rule out a role on the left in 2025. Either way, Ringenberg and Paymal should find a groove while on the same roster.

Here's one for the duos.