Class of 2025 Rankings Update: Setters

The setter position is one that is unappreciated compared to the other "flashy" positions. The position has really grown over the years allowing them to have more freedom to be an offensive option. Setters can be asked to be proficient at different skills whether you're asked to play all 6 rotations or to play 3 rotations in the front or back row only. Those who are asked to play in the front row need to be high level blockers while those who are asked to play in the back row need to be high level defenders. The rankings for setters comes down to their technique, decision making, and consistency of their sets first and foremost. The players ability to defend well in either blocking or digging or both is the next skills that are focused on.        <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newly Ranked Prospects</h2>     [player_tooltip player_id='274505' first='Melissa' last='Gonzalez'] - Miami Hype 17 Emilio     Melissa is the type of player that coaches love to coach because of her consistency and demand of the offense. She can set every tempo as long as the pass is high enough for her to get her feet to the ball. She's so quick and balanced that she's able to get her hands on almost everything. With good footwork and control of tempo it really made her location consistency even more impressive. Melissa may be undersized but has all of the skills and IQ that you could ask from the position.     [player_tooltip player_id='355767' first='Sophia' last='Custodio'] - TUVA 17 Black     Sophia really exemplifies what coaches look for in a smaller setter. She can definitely still compete at the net in the front row, but her setting is what puts her on this list. She has quick hands and still has the control to set different tempos. She does a great job keeping her contact point consistent no matter where she wants to set the ball. Defensively she reads the court well from the right back and has solid digging fundamentals to help her consistency on her digs. Sophia is a player that could make an impact for the right program at the next level.     [player_tooltip player_id='526037' first='Brielle' last='Mullen'] - GP 17 Rox     Brielle has one of the softest and quickest set releases in the rankings. Her touch on 1st and 2nd tempo to the middle and the pin really gives blockers nightmares when she's in rhythm. She makes the position look so easy to play and puts up a hittable ball even if her feet aren't set. She has the discipline to understand when and when not to jump set while being able to use both options as an advantage. Brielle has all of the potential and ability to be a great setter option at the next level.     [player_tooltip player_id='526040' first='Emma' last='Berg'] - OVA 17 Black     Emma has some of the quickest feet while staying balanced that I have seen in a long time. Her ability to get to the ball both on 2nd contact sets and on 2nd contact digs is impressive. Because of how quickly she can close to the ball she's able to square her hips around the ball and hold opposing blockers. She has a fluid setting motion that makes it really hard for the opposing block to read. Defensively she could easily play as a specialist for a college program just as much as her setting will enable her to do the same. I can't wait to see how her game grows in the coming year.     [player_tooltip player_id='526047' first='Tyler' last='Peluso'] - OT 17 O Felix     Tyler does a lot of the small things that college coaches look for when it comes to setting. The first thing that I noticed is her ability to not show opposing defenses where she's setting until the ball hits her hands. With her being able to keep her contact point consistent she opens up space for her hitters to attack around the block. Tyler has full control and understanding of the offense she's running and has an uncanny ability to go against the flow to pull the opposing middle blocker. Tyler has so much room to grow yet has all of the ability to start as a setter for a college program tomorrow.     [player_tooltip player_id='526048' first='Olivia' last='Klimis'] - OT 17 O Felix     Olivia is a lot different than everyone else I've highlighted in this article because of her ability to attack the ball as a hitter. She has the skills and physical ability to play both positions at a high level. When it comes to her setting the one thing I noticed was her consistency in location. She may not be the most technically sound, but the ball goes where it's supposed to at the time it's supposed to be there. When you look at the other skills like blocking and digging she has all of the quickness and vertical jumping to do it at a high level. Olivia is a raw prospect who has all of the tools to move up in the next updated rankings.     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stock Risers</h2>     [player_tooltip player_id='204098' first='Mikayla' last='Porter'] - Wildfire 17N Open     Mikayla really impressed me when I was able to watch her play at MEQ. She has total control of the offense and understands how to make good setting decisions based off of her hitters talent level. She embodies the things you look for in a leader of your team and especially of an offense. Mikayla is a dynamic setter who almost always puts her hitters in good situations while pulling the opposing middle blocker as well. The combination of leadership and high level skill as a setter is what pushed her up the rankings.     The setter position is one of my favorite yet difficult positions to watch and rank. The intricacies of the position when it comes to overall IQ and athleticism is why the position is regarded as one of the hardest positions to play in volleyball. Each of these prospects help their teams play at a high level and allow for their hitters to take advantage of the situations the setter helped put them in. Overall the setter position in the class of 2025 has a combination of both 6-2 and 5-1 setters who can either be an impact player now or have the potential to be one in the next couple of years.

The setter position is one that is unappreciated compared to the other "flashy" positions. The position has really grown over the years allowing them to have more freedom to be an offensive option. Setters can be asked to be proficient at different skills whether you're asked to play all 6 rotations or to play 3 rotations in the front or back row only. Those who are asked to play in the front row need to be high level blockers while those who are asked to play in the back row need to be high level defenders. The rankings for setters comes down to their technique, decision making, and consistency of their sets first and foremost. The players ability to defend well in either blocking or digging or both is the next skills that are focused on.