Breakout Setters from Nebraska’s 2024 State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's state tournament taught us a lot about the setter talent in the Cornhusker State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/11/impact-liberos-from-nebraskas-2024-state-tournament/">Liberos</a> and middle blockers have already been in the spotlight as we assess some of the top performers from the 2024 NSAA State Volleyball Championships. But, of course, we should also address the position that ties everything together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setters were integral to some of this fall's biggest tournament triumphs. Better yet, many of these athletes still have a lot of time left on Nebraska's prep stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["275937"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673b0c0a4b3bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Eymann made an immediate impact whenever she rotated in as part of Papio South's two-setter offense. She commanded the Titan offense well out of the back row and had a team-high 22 assists in the Class A title victory over Elkhorn South. The junior standout also reminded us of her sharp defensive skills in the right-back area. Look for all these traits to flourish as Eymann embarks on another club season in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["251144"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673b0c0a4b42c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've documented Lincoln Southwest's big lineup transition after winning the 2023 Class A championship. One of the biggest changes involved bringing Eckman into the mix to set the offense, and she was up to the challenge all year. She racked up over 800 assists during the regular season while piloting the Silver Hawks to a 23-8 record. Eckman's connections with her hitters flourished, even as LSW brought in a lot of new faces at the attacking positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["275901"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673b0c0a4b46e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We have to give one more nod to Booth and her extraordinary output in the 2024 campaign. She took over the setter spot after her older sister's departure to Northern Iowa. Booth kept the Wolves rolling while putting up one of the state's best assist-per-set averages. Her tournament numbers put Booth's 2024 total over 1,000, and she has another year to top that mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["349413"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673b0c0a4b4ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">How about another addition to the 1,000 assist club? Miller reached the millennium mark during the regular season and brought Gretna back to the postseason as a newly minted Class B school. We watched Miller make big gains during the club season with Premier Nebraska, and that immediately translated to prep success with the Dragons. 2025 should continue the upward trend with Gretna returning so much talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["582871"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673b0c0a4b4e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mandernach is a perfect fit for Kearney Catholic's brand of up-tempo offense. The junior setter gets her feet to the ball quickly and is not afraid to push the tempo from pin to pin. She assisted on 34 kills as Kearney Catholic swept Battle Creek in the quarterfinal opener. This pushed Mandernach over 900 assists on the season, and she has another year to add to her career tally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["464659"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673b0c0a4b51d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We were excited to see VanSkiver and Hastings St. Cecilia break into this year's tournament after a big win in the district finals. VanSkiver finished the regular season with over 900 assists to rank among the top setters in Class C2. The Nebraska Juniors standout remained a stabilizing force during St. Cecilia's physical quarterfinal contest with Lincoln Lutheran. Expect more of the same next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["275961"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673b0c0a4b556"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's bring a setter-hitter into this feature. Wattier is the kind of athlete who can churn out triple-doubles as if it's an ordinary feat. The setter-outside hybrid player amassed over 300 digs, assists, and kills over the regular season. She also had Norfolk Catholic's best ace total. Wattier's full repertoire was on display when she registered 21 kills, 25 digs, and 17 assists in Norfolk Catholic's five-set quarterfinal win over Yutan. That's a next-level triple-double.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='728405' first='Faith' last='Butler']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Superior","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673b0c0a4b5df"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Butler picked the perfect way to conclude her prep career. The Superior senior weathered plenty of dramatic tournament moments and helped the Wildcats secure a Class D1 title as the No. 3 seed. Superior's 2024 success was fuelled by the state's most colossal kill numbers, and Butler was the link to nearly all of those terminations. She soared past 900 total assists after her postseason output and is now a part of Superior's second-ever volleyball title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["498986"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673b0c0a4b620"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wood garnered a few mentions during our tournament coverage, and this feature is not complete without the Central Valley sophomore. The Cougars reached Class D2's semifinals behind Wood's precise location and aggressive setting style. Aside from her ability to distribute the ball, Wood was also among Class D2's best servers during the postseason. The small-town scene is no stranger to star setters, and Wood is making an early case to be in this conversation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->