Elite and Dynamic - 2028 Setters Ready For Recruiting

The Class of 2028 is gearing up to officially start their recruiting journey where they can start talking to college coaches two months from tomorrow (June 15).  This is an exciting class when it comes to setters.  I've been on the 16s courts quite a bit the past couple months and here are ten from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin to put on the radar right now.     The top prospect in the Wisconsin Class of 2028 brings a really dynamic skillset to the table. At 6'3, Loechler has the length, she plays well above the net. Take away her setting - and she's a top right side attacker. Watching her on the 16 Open courts has been exciting because she always finds a way to impact the game. Her trajectory at the next level will be interesting. She can set, she can score, she does it all. She plays for one of the top high school programs in Wisconsin in Divine Savior Holy Angels out of Milwaukee and is on the top club team in [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 16 Gold. They will be off the next couple of weeks, but will be back in action at the start of May at Gold Rush at Boiler Juniors.     Another setter, combo player for MKE Sting 16 Gold is [player_tooltip player_id='587079' first='Quinn' last='Ische']. I highly suggest finding a way to watch this Sting 16 Gold team with how dynamic their athletes are. A lot of them can play multiple positions. Ische has great footwork and hands as a setter, she's always looking to push the tempo and is able to find a favorable matchup for her attackers. Oh, and she's left handed. She has been a right side at times for her team where she knows how to score points. There is a mature sense about her game where she knows what is going on with both sides of the net.       We are seeing a pattern with a lot of these high level setters. They can set or they can attack. [player_tooltip player_id='484408' first='Tatum' last='Kelly'] is elite at both, a true all around player. The top prospect in the Class of 2028 from Illinois is the quarterback for 1st Alliance 16 Gold who was able to grab an open bid from the Windy City Qualifier. Before Kelly even touches the ball, her movement on the court is so smooth, effortless. She is able to get to the ball, stay neutral, and set all the tempos. In the summer of 2025, she had a busy camp season going to some big programs - Kentucky, USC, and Baylor to name a few.     Yes, another setter who can also attack. [player_tooltip player_id='546211' first='Sage' last='Olson'] is the second ranked prospect in the Illinois Class of 2028. There is such joy in the game of Olson where she plays with pace and a spark. She's also going to pack a punch. She plays for [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] 17 Elite where she can be a right side or setter - dynamic to say the least. I am really impressed by her athleticism and physicality. She's a competitor where she can will her team to a win.     [player_tooltip player_id='734119' first='Lorelei' last='Candler'] had a breakout high school season where she was one of the top players in Division 3, leading her Watertown Luther Prep team to a state runner-up finish. On the club courts, she plays for Madtown 161 National where she is a setter/attacker combo. She is so well rounded where she does a little bit of everything really well. She scores points from both pins, she can set from anywhere on the court, and defends her position well. She's the type of player where the other side of the net has to always be aware of where she is and what she will do with the ball.     So much range! [player_tooltip player_id='545946' first='Addison' last='Waldorf'] of Iowa Premier 16-1 has put together quite a year. She led Humboldt High School to a Class 4A runner up finish and has been running the show for Premier on the 16 Open courts. What I am most impressed with is what she does when the ball is away from the net. She could be 15-20 feet off the net and she's going to find a way to get her hands on the ball. She's also not afraid to set the middle if she is pulled off to the ten foot line. She sets a great tempo to the outside as well. There are so many positive intangibles that are positive about her game. She connects with her teammates, she knows how to play in big moments, and seems like the type of player that others enjoy playing alongside.     Another setter who finds a way to set and score points, [player_tooltip player_id='730426' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier'] out of Iowa City is a dynamic, left-handed combo player. She has been playing for [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 16R where they have been a highly competitive USA Division team. I like the savviness of her game, she plays with great composure and maturity. As a right side, she knows how to make a smart shot - she finds the openings and knows how to use the block. As a setter, she knows how to utilize her middles. The combination of her and [player_tooltip player_id='730449' first='Kylee' last='Suhr'] has been fun to watch evolve over this qualifier season.     I was able to watch quite a bit of Iowa United 161 Elite at the Windy City Qualifier. [player_tooltip player_id='701976' first='Adelyn' last='Stien'] runs the show for this team and has great command of the court. You can tell she's a multisport athlete because she just has that vibe where she knows how to get it done. She is a playmaker, making something out of nothing, and also makes a lot of difficult plays look routine. This United team has a lot of firepower and grit. They have been competing at the open level for qualifiers and will be heading to USAV Nationals in Indy with an American bid.     There is a huge upside to the game of [player_tooltip player_id='763901' first='Berkley' last='Weiland']. The setter out of the Des Moines area has been quite the impact player for PowerPlex 16 Nelson. I was able to watch this team quite a bit at Triple Crown and her ability to better the ball was elite. She is someone who can terminate as an attacker or find a way for her attackers to put points on the board as a setter. A lot of these setters in this article are all around athletes with a diverse skill set. Weiland can do it all from defending in the backrow, being offensive at the net on the second contact, or scoring points as an attackers.     I really like the discipline of [player_tooltip player_id='545533' first='Alexis' last='Babiash'] along with how she can put the ball on the dime. The setter for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Elite is really good when it comes to setting a quick tempo to all positions. She can also get a ball out of system and make the smart set for her attackers to put some pace on the ball. This [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Elite team has shown a lot of improvement over the season and was in the final four of the JVA World Challenge 16 Open Division. They could be a dangerous team heading into the summer.

The Class of 2028 is gearing up to officially start their recruiting journey where they can start talking to college coaches two months from tomorrow (June 15). This is an exciting class when it comes to setters. I've been on the 16s courts quite a bit the past couple months and here are ten from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin to put on the radar right now.