Why These Players Are Landing on Coaches' Radar

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">More than 150 college coaches shared this article. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."</a>   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakota</a>   Generally, you can tell within a few rallies which players are running the show. They stay cool when the pass isn't perfect, they put hitters at ease, and they seem to know just where the next touch is perfect. What is most impressive about this group is how they continue to separate themselves through their decision-making, ball location, and ability to sustain an offense. It's those little things that have college coaches looking a little more closely.    Josephine Baranowski is good at keeping an offense on schedule, even when the first contact isn't perfect. I watched her square her shoulders and hit a hittable ball to her pins, turning several out-of-system balls into quality scoring chances. She doesn't rush decisions, and that composure helps her hitters be aggressive throughout a match. College coaches looking for a setter who stays steady under pressure will appreciate the confidence she brings to every possession. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     Catherine Bensler does a nice job keeping blockers from getting comfortable. One rally, she's pushing a quick one in the middle, and the next, she's stretching the defense to the pin. She understands how to move the block rather than simply put the ball up. That's the kind of offensive feel that becomes really valuable as the game gets faster. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     Sahana Bhat sees the court well. She recognizes where the block is leaning, trusts what she sees, and gives her hitters opportunities to score instead of forcing low-percentage sets. One of the things I noticed late in the club season was how quickly she adjusted after an off pass without changing the pace of the offense. Those are little moments that college coaches notice. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='781667' first='Kiersten' last='Lutz'] brings confidence every time she steps into the setter position. Her hands stay quiet, she's balanced to the ball, and she does a good job making everything look the same until the ball leaves her hands. It keeps blockers guessing and gives her hitters cleaner looks. She's the type of setter who makes the offense feel comfortable all match long. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     Anika Schwartz never appears to be in pursuit of the match. Early on, she's on the ball, balanced, and gives her hitters a consistent contact point to work with. I've noticed that in the last couple of tournaments, she doesn't panic when the pass is off the net. Instead, she resets and gives her team another shot. This is the type of poise coaches love because it prevents an offense from falling apart. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='1004716' first='Ella'lin' last='West'] is always fun to watch because she consistently finds a way to make the next play happen. I saw her run down a tough pass more than once this summer, square herself up, and still deliver a ball her hitters could attack. Those extra-effort plays may not always make the highlight reel, but they keep points alive and give her team momentum. College coaches want setters who don't let a rally end on the second contact. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     Harper Myrback has become excellent at running an offense at a quick tempo. She does an impressive job of freezing blockers with her body and eyes, then sending the ball to an open attacker. One thing I kept noticing late in the season was how often her hitters could attack with space because of the choices she made. When a setter makes those kinds of choices on a regular basis, coaches take notice pretty quickly. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple: to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. Every player deserves a shot, and I'm honored to help tell their stories.</h2>   Please help us continue to grow this positive platform for players by spreading the word and encouraging your friends to subscribe at PrepDig.com. With your support, we can create unforgettable memories and experiences!   The village, athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers create this journey.   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you for making it all possible! ~ Theresa Hickman</h4>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</h3>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Case You Missed It</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://prepdig.com/dakotas/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_5b1fa1.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-987083" /></a></figure>

More than 150 college coaches shared this article. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."