Illinois Top 250 Showcase: Standout Setters Pt. 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The gym was overflowing with talent this weekend at the Illinois Prep Dig Top 250 Expo—it was almost overwhelming! Throughout the event, I floated between all nine courts, observing players in every position and watching how they competed against one another. Setters, often considered the glue of a volleyball team, naturally caught my eye first. Here are a few standout court generals who impressed me today:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["530665"],"_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-67675b0f06158"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Laine immediately caught my attention at the Expo with her impressive ability to connect with her hitters from anywhere on the court. As a lefty setter, she can make sneaky plays that catch the defense off guard. I was especially impressed with her defensive impact—both in setting up a big block and showcasing scrappy defensive skills. Thompson's confidence and leadership mentality truly set her apart from other setters her age. I can't wait to see the impact she makes for [program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'] this club season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["522626"],"_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-67675b0f061d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ellery may only be a freshman, but she plays with the confidence of a senior. I was incredibly impressed with Cabaj's ability to get her feet set under every ball, consistently giving her teammates opportunities to score. Her aggressiveness at the net draws in blockers, opening up the court for her hitters. I'm excited to see Ellery compete this club season!</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":"Morgan Peletin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"University High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Illini Ellite VBC","_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-67675b0f0629c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Morgan made some big plays at the Expo this weekend. I witnessed some big blocks out of her and her block coverage was just as impressive! Peletin stands just under 6 feet tall, and she does a very good job using every inch of her height to her advantage. Morgans ability to consistently run her middles and keep them involved helped her to stand out among other setters. Overall super impressed with Peletin, she's on track to have a huge season for [program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["522229"],"_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-67675b0f062f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lexi's versatility on the court really caught my eye at the Expo. She has a great connection with her pins, especially on the ride side. I was super impressed with Rice's defensive abilities, specifically being able to play the ball off of the net and cover those sneaky short tips behind her teammates block. Another aspect of her game that sets her apart is her incredibly strong serve, which contributes to a big part of her teams success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["491623"],"_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-67675b0f06336"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='491623' first='Grace' last='Mikal'] is a name that you don't want to forget. Being a 6 foot tall setter with the talent that Mikal displays is every coaches dream. She has such smooth hands and consistently delivers precise and well-placed sets for her hitters, and her communication and energy make her a great leader on the court. The future is looking bright for Grace, and I can't wait to see where it takes her!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->