Stand-Out Setters from the Illinois Top 250 Expo
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There was a lot of depth at the Illinois Top 250 Expo, and the setter position was no exception. This Expo had a great balance of younger and more experienced athletes who all took the floor together and played great…
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Continue ReadingThere was a lot of depth at the Illinois Top 250 Expo, and the setter position was no exception. This Expo had a great balance of younger and more experienced athletes who all took the floor together and played great volleyball. Here are some standout setters who ran the show at the Illinois Top 250 Expo.
Jaelyn is an athlete that was a stand-out player at the Stock Up Showcase a few months ago and has only improved since then. She is a very talented setter with a quick touch on the ball and great court awareness. She makes smart decisions and spreads her offense well. Jaelyn is a lefty who can also swing. She could be a talented 5-1 setter or a setter/right side combo.
Samantha showed a lot of grit at the Expo. She made tough plays work and was impressive in every single drill. She had a great sense of what her hitters needed. Samantha has excellent contact on the ball when jump setting and is tough to read. She impressed me with her energy on the floor and her ability to adjust to chaotic plays.
Highlights
This is a player who is going to show up and play at a high level. She is an absolute gamer who can set and swing. I have seen her at expos and on the court with her club team, and she consistently steps up as a leader in her play and her communication. She is a player who runs the court and has a lot of potential for success at the next level.
Gabriella is an absolute rockstar of a setter who exploded onto my radar at the Illinois Top 250 Expo. She checked every box for me, including:
- t
- having great form and fundamentals
- making connections with every hitter she worked with
- adjusting sets for the middle hitters
- huge hustle
She impressed me a huge amount and has the makings of a great setter.
Julia is a smart and savvy setter who was developed in every aspect of her game. She has an offensive mindset and was not afraid to throw a dump over in smart moments. She also utilized her back row incredibly well and used them as a hitting option, not just to bail out of a tough pass. Julia’s volleyball IQ is impressive and her court awareness and decision-making will only improve as she continues to play competitive volleyball.
Highlights
Brianna came alive during gameplay. She didn’t initially catch my eye during positional work, but as soon as 6v6 play started, she was a force to be reckoned with. She ran down balls well and made smart choices. Brianna is an athlete with solid fundamentals and a lot of potential.
Highlights
Tiernan was a breakout star at the Expo. She has the trifecta of setting talent: disciplined form, good hands, quick contact on the ball. She thrived in scrimmage play, where she could run the court and build momentum through great play. Her solid fundamentals and keen eye made her dangerous and hard to read, especially when she was on the move.
Cara plays simple and effective. There is nothing crazy flashy about her play, but she consistently put up great balls for her hitters. When setters and middles were running drills, she stood out in a huge way because she could set a playable tempo ball for every middle. Even her first time through the drill, she made great connections and helped the middles find huge success. I appreciate her level of consistency, which translated well into gameplay, where she remained a consistent and positive force on the court.