Setters to Watch from the DMV Prep Dig 250 Expo

While they did not win top performer awards these setters showed some talent on the court feeding their hitters. The Expo is a short window for evaluating players. The club season provides a greater opportunity for them to display their skills. Hopefully, I will see them in action. They certainly appear on my radar as players to watch. There were 20 setters who attended the DMV Prep Dig Expo, just short of the libero count of 27. Below are some of the setters who made an impression.    As far as I am concerned, she is a top performer. Not selecting her may have been an oversight on my part. Last year she set a 5/1 for American 15. They finished third out of 128 teams in the American Division at the Northeast Qualifiers. For high school she also made the All Cedar Run District first team while setting a 5/1 for Osborne.   This coming season she will set for American 17 Red. That is a jump of two years. At 5'9" she brings decent height to the setting position. If she could enhance her vertical to fly a bit higher over the net that could make her more impactful in the front row. As an ex-gymnast this should be achievable. Last year she played a year down. This year she plays her age. A nice challenge for the new club season.     She started as a frosh setting a 5/1 for Thomas Jefferson High. At 5'7" she is a bit undersized to block in the front row. However, because her setting is so accurate the Colonials sacrifice blocking to improve hitting efficiency. She also led the team in service aces, which would indicate a powerful serve.   Iris is one of two setters for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 15 Cruz. She will share the setting responsibilities with [player_tooltip player_id='730575' first='Amanda' last='Dadio'], another participant in the DMV Prep Dig 250 Expo. Last year she set for the 14 second team and helped them earn a spot in the Junior Nationals, a pretty high achievement for a second team.   Iris came into the DMV Prep Dig Expo unranked. My guess is she will make her debut somewhere in the rankings when they are updated in January.     She set for Holy Cross this past year. At 6'0" they used her mostly in the front row to set. The Tartans ran a modified 5/1 using a second setter that came in for Anasofia in the back row. On passes tight to the net it took little effort for Anasofia to reach high over the net to put the ball to the floor. At the DMV Prep Dig 250 Expo she showed a good serve, collecting three consecutive aces as the event came to a close.   The big thing she needs to work on is making the right set to earn a point. That means sometimes making the easy set to the hitter best at getting the kill, rather than put up the unexpected more difficult set to a less accomplished hitter. Definitely some talent to work with here.   Anasofia will play for Maryland Juniors this year. Setting in the backrow while also allowing her to hit or set in the front row would enhance her game. In addition, limiting her setting to the front row does not give her the opportunity to showcase her serve. That serving had the highest ace percentage on the Tartan team this past season.     You know a setter is good when she comes on the court and all the hitters greet her warmly. That was common at the DMV Prep Dig Expo for Maris when the setters rotated. She seemed quite popular for a frosh. Almost all the hitters seemed to know Maris even though she may not have played for them. Perhaps she just exudes warmth.   As a frosh Maris saw a lot of setting opportunities for Paul VI. She and top performer [player_tooltip player_id='730574' first='Ali' last='Joyce'] shared the setting duties with junior [player_tooltip player_id='308751' first='Olivia' last='LeBlanc']. For this coming club season Maris will play for Virginia Juniors.   Time for Maris to appear in our 2028 rankings.     One thing to know about Amanda is she works hard at her craft. There are few players who work harder. It is not uncommon to see her arrive a half hour before practice starts to get some early work on her setting. At 5'9" she brings some height to the position. There still appears some growth left in her as well.   As a frosh she needs the playing experience to eliminate the rawness in her game. This would allow her to achieve more consistency in the location of her sets. Playing for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] should address that. While she may play for the second team with [player_tooltip player_id='730596' first='Iris' last='Jin'] their schedule appears competitive. Last year's 14 two team qualified for Junior Nationals, A number of those players have returned to the team.     There is a lot of enthusiasm in Maya's game. She loves to set but she also loves to stay in the front row to hit. When I coached her at the 14 level she was still very raw, especially showing hesitancy in breaking early to her spot when the ball is not hit at her. Her game has improved since then.   Last year she set for the Washington-Liberty Junior varsity. Finding minutes could be a challenge since their current varsity setter is also from the class of 2027. [player_tooltip player_id='466569' first='Kathryn' last='Wagener'] has been setting for the varsity since she was a frosh.   Maya will set at [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] this year. A ranking debut could be on the horizon.    [player_tooltip player_id='730593' first='Gabrielle' last='Jordan'] (Bishop O' Connell/2027) - Gabby transferred late to O'Connell after the team had formed. She was used as a practice player. Last year she transitioned to the setting position. In previous years she played right side. She still is a bit raw with her setting especially when it comes to the quick tempo sets, but that will come with more playing time at the position. Her value to a team could come with her versatility. She can play multiple positions, whether as a defensive specialist, pin hitter or setter. She also has the potential for a strong serve. At 5'8" she is a bit undersized for the front row, but she can still create offense with her swing. An athletic girl with some track experience running the triple jump, hurdles and long jump. This year Gabby will play for Saint James 18.    She looked pretty good when she teamed with [player_tooltip player_id='730574' first='Ali' last='Joyce'] in a ball control drill. The duo stayed on the court for a long time as the coach kept increasing the velocity and difficulty of her hits. Unfortunately, I did not really get to see her play in game conditions.   It appears she was added to the Alexandria City varsity team in time for the playoffs. The Titans made it to the States but lost in the first round. For club this year she is listed as playing for Legacy Academy. Certainly, a player to keep an eye on.       Trinity seemed to bounce back and forth between the Holy Cross Junior Varsity and Frosh team. Even when she played for the junior varsity, she appeared to be one of their more talented players. The only loss for the Tartans JV team schedule wise came against Bishop O'Connell. And it went three.   Next year there will be a need for a setter on the varsity team. With a little more experience Trinity appears ripe for the job. She will play for Maryland Juniors this club season.    [player_tooltip player_id='730963' first='Maya' last='Berkowitz'] (St. Andrews Episcopal) - Her height lists at 6'0". She will play for Metro 16 North. She belongs to the class of 2027. Unfortunately, I did not see enough of her at the Prep Dig 250 Expo, but a player with that height at setter is someone to watch.

While they did not win top performer awards these setters showed some talent on the court feeding their hitters. The Expo is a short window for evaluating players. The club season provides a greater opportunity for them to display their skills. Hopefully, I will see them in action. They certainly appear on my radar as players to watch. There were 20 setters who attended the DMV Prep Dig Expo, just short of the libero count of 27. Below are some of the setters who made an impression.