Which 2027 Setters Made Big First Impressions at NLQ?
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Let’s finish this out. Our post-NLQ coverage of Nebraska’s Class of 2027 has addressed pin hitters, liberos, and middle blockers. We still have a void to fill at the setter spot, and there are plenty of good ones to choose…
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Our post-NLQ coverage of Nebraska’s Class of 2027 has addressed pin hitters, liberos, and middle blockers. We still have a void to fill at the setter spot, and there are plenty of good ones to choose from, too.
So, we’re going back to Nebraska’s 15s participants at NLQ to find the next wave of showstopping setters from the Class of 2027.
Raegan Lehr
Raegan Lehr
We’ll start with the steady signal-caller for Nebraska ONE 15 Lime. Lehr asserted herself as 15 Lime’s ball control anchor throughout NLQ, and it wasn’t always about her smooth setting. Whenever Nebraska ONE was in three-hitter rotations, Lehr stepped up as a lockdown defender in the right-back area. When you combine all that with Lehr’s solid frontcourt play, you have a complete setter that can guide Nebraska ONE to new heights in the 15s age group.
We’re discussing three different Addisons in this feature, so proceed with caution! Cahow is the first one up, and it’s hard not to spotlight this setter after her Premier 15 Black team struck gold in Minneapolis. Her calming presence shows up every time she’s on the floor, and perhaps it’s because Cahow connects so well with her hitters. 15 Black’s offense flows so well with Cahow running the show, especially on up-tempo sets to the left side. Those bonds will become even stronger as 15 Black hones its skills for GJNC.
Highlights
Maddy Stukenholtz Maddy Stukenholtz 5'3" | DS/L Platteview | 2027 NE
Maddy Stukenholtz Maddy Stukenholtz 5'3" | DS/L Platteview | 2027 NE
Platteview High School has a fascinating future leader at the setter spot. Even if Stukenholtz wasn’t setting the Premier 15 Red offense, her hard-driven serves kept her in the starting rotation throughout NLQ. She generates so much downward movement and pace on her serve and keyed up several scoring runs during qualifier action. Stukenholtz will likely wield her combination of ball control and serving en route to more highlight moments in 2024.
Taylor Barcel Taylor Barcel 5'8" | S Millard West | 2027 NE
Taylor Barcel Taylor Barcel 5'8" | S Millard West | 2027 NE
Barcel was part of a two-pronged setter position that lifted Nebraska Elite 15 Revolution to a 15 Open title. 15 Revolution’s setters had a knack for knowing when to be aggressive and when to simply ride the hot hand. That maturity was paramount to Barcel’s breakout performance on one of club volleyball’s biggest stages. What a way to land on our Class of 2027 radar.
Addison Bradley Addison Bradley 5'6" | S Marian | 2027 NE
Addison Bradley Addison Bradley 5'6" | S Marian | 2027 NE
Good luck finding a back-row setter who racks up more kills than Bradley. Setters are normally not considered an attacking threat when they rotate into the backcourt, but Bradley defied that trend with set-over dumps that gave teams fits in Minneapolis. And, by the way, Bradley was great at dishing the ball around, too. Nebraska Elite 15-2 has a lot to build around after January’s NLQ showing.
Addison Keller
Addison Keller
Another Nebraska Elite 15-2 setter enters the conversation. Keller adds a wrinkle to the 15-2 lineup as a setter-opposite hybrid who can do a little of everything. She becomes one of Nebraska Elite’s leading attackers in the front row, even when 15-2 is out of system. Her transition to the backcourt turns Keller into a setter who can distribute to her other terminal attackers. This Nebraska Elite squad is giving opposing teams a lot to think about.
Zuri Link Zuri Link 5'4" | S NE
Zuri Link Zuri Link 5'4" | S NE
Link kept her hitters in rhythm no matter what kind of pass she received. This Nebraska Elite 15-3 setter can deliver a dime while drifting off the net and is equally comfortable handling tight first contacts at the net. We love a setter that is not afraid to take chances, and Link has shown a bit of that edge so far in 2024. Let’s see how her role evolves at the next big qualifier.