Generals on the Court: Setters of SD High School Volleyball

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By: Theresa Hickman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to volleyball, all eyes are often on the hitters delivering powerful spikes or the defenders making game-saving digs. But behind every winning play is a strategic mastermind—the setter. Often referred to as the "general on the court," setters are the heart of every offense, orchestrating attacks, reading the defense, and making split-second decisions that can change the course of a game. Just like a general in battle, the setter's ability to direct the flow of the game, communicate with teammates, and execute under pressure makes them the true leaders on the court. Let's dive into why these athletes are the driving force behind every successful team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Madelyn Munch","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_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":"Dakota Valley (North Sioux City, SD)","_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-67239b41effa9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">First on the list: Madelyn Munch – The Sophomore Sensation from Dakota Valley!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In her first year of varsity play, sophomore Madelyn Munch is already turning heads and making a name for herself. With an incredible 829 assists under her belt, she's not just getting by—she's thriving. And it doesn't stop there. Madelyn has racked up 30 aces with a consistent 91% serving percentage, showing that she's as dangerous from the service line as she is at setting up her hitters. What truly sets her apart, though, is her volleyball IQ. She plays with the poise and awareness of a senior, reading defenses like a pro and delivering the perfect set to seal the point. If you get the chance, watch this rising star—she's only just begun!</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='724899' first='Grace' last='Corey']","_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":"null","_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":"Watertown, SD","_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-67239b41f00bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Next Up: [player_tooltip player_id='724899' first='Grace' last='Corey'] – The Senior Setter Dominating at Watertown High!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior [player_tooltip player_id='724899' first='Grace' last='Corey'] is having a phenomenal season, already amassing 703 assists, surpassing her previous career highs. With her impressive court vision and precise sets, Grace is well on her way to hitting the 1,500-assist milestone by season's end, building on her current total of 1,232 assists. Last week, she extended her incredible streak to 21 consecutive games with at least 19 assists per match, a testament to her consistency and leadership. It's no wonder she's earned multiple Player of the Match awards this season. Grace is not just the backbone of Watertown's offense—she's a game-changer, elevating her team every time she steps on the court. Keep an eye on her as the postseason approaches!</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":713367,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sophi Randall ","_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":"5'11u0022","_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":"Dell Rapids High School, SD","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Avera Sports Kairos Volleyball","_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-67239b41f01bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spotlight on Sophi Randall – Dell Rapids' Elite 5'11” Senior Setter!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sophi Randall has been nothing short of a powerhouse on the court. As the floor general for Dell Rapids High School, she's amassed an incredible 3,169 career assists—and the postseason hasn't even begun! With 690 assists so far this season, she's just warming up, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see her break her personal record by the end of the year. But it's not just her stats that set her apart. Sophi's resume is stacked: she's been invited to UAnextVolleyball, represented Team SD through Adrenaline Volleyball, earned a spot in the USA NTDP, and made the JVA Watch List. The list goes on! It's no wonder she's committed to the University of Illinois. If you haven't seen her in action yet, don't miss your chance this season—or catch her playing for Kairos VBC in club volleyball.</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":"Claire Cotton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_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":"Faulkton High School","_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-67239b41f02a8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Claire Cotton – Faulkton's Rising Star at Setter! Claire Cotton, a 5'5” sophomore from Faulkton High School, is already making waves in her setting career. With 656 assists under her belt, Claire is off to an impressive start, but it's not just the numbers that stand out. In one standout game, she tallied 9 digs, 2 aces, and over 21 assists—a performance that's hard to ignore, especially from a sophomore! Her court awareness and volleyball IQ are beyond her years, consistently placing the ball with precision into her hitters' hands. Claire is a young talent you need to keep an eye on, as she's quickly becoming one of the top setters to watch.</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":"Olivia Resel","_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":"5'10u0022","_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":"Miller High School, SD","_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-67239b41f0387"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spotlight on Olivia Resel – Miller High School's 5'10” Senior Setter!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Olivia Resel is off to a commanding start in her senior year at Miller High School. With 650 assists already and an impressive average of 9.6 assists per game, Olivia knows how to run an offense with precision. She's also a master at surprising opponents with well-timed dumps that catch the defense off guard. Her serving game is just as sharp, with 30 aces and a solid 87% serving percentage. On top of that, she's showing her versatility with 115 digs and 59 kills, making her an all-around threat on the court. Olivia is a senior to watch as the season unfolds!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we've seen throughout this season, setters are the driving force behind every successful volleyball team. Often overlooked in favor of flashy spikes and defensive saves, these athletes are the strategists who orchestrate the game, making split-second decisions that can change the course of a match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the season finishes, let's remember to celebrate these generals of the court for their invaluable contributions. Their hard work may not always make headlines, but it's their vision and determination that often lead their teams to victory. Keep an eye on these exceptional players—because behind every great team, there's a great setter who deserves recognition!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->