Ready to Run the Show: Sophomore Setters Back With Experience

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>More than 150 college coaches shared this article.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Join PrepDig and get 30% off with code "digdakotas30."</strong></a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakota</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These sophomores got an early look at what it takes to run a varsity offense, and now they're back for year two. They've felt the speed, dealt with the tough passes, learned how to work with their hitters, and had to make decisions when a point was on the line. That first season gave them a lot to build from, and that's what makes this fall so interesting. We already know they can compete at this level. Now I want to see who takes everything they learned as a freshman and runs with it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["890376"],"_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-6a8ce532bf8ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='890376' first='Audrey' last='Hayden'] handled a lot as a freshman and looked comfortable doing it. She could chase a pass well off the net, get herself underneath it and still give her hitter a ball to attack. Hayden wasn't afraid to move the offense around either, and as the season went on, you could see her trusting what she was seeing and making quicker choices with the ball. Add in her ability to attack from the right side, and there was already quite a bit to her game last fall. She comes back this season knowing exactly what the varsity court feels like. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1022279,"_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-6a8ce532bf938"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1022279' first='Brianna' last='Severts'] had a steadiness about her as a freshman that was easy to appreciate. When the first contact wasn't perfect, she didn't rush the next one. She worked on the ball, got herself in position, and found a hitter. Severts also did an impressive job keeping different options involved rather than becoming predictable with where she wanted to go. A full season of making those decisions against varsity competition gives her something to work from this fall, and I'm excited to see how much more comfortable she looks running the court. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["776368"],"_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-6a8ce532bf989"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='776368' first='Eliett' last='Satterstrom'] looked comfortable with responsibility early. She was patient with the second ball, gave her hitters a consistent location, and didn't abandon something simply because a point didn't go their way. I also liked that her involvement didn't stop once the set left her hands. Satterstrom defended, served aggressively, and stayed connected to what was happening around her. She played a lot of volleyball between high school and club, and sophomore year gives us another look at a setter who already showed she could handle quite a bit as a freshman. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1022281,"_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-6a8ce532bf9f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1022281' first='Kylin' last='Schaefer'] made some of her better plays when things got messy. A pass could pull her away from the net, and she'd compete to get there, square herself, and still try to give someone a swing. She didn't check out of the rally after the set either. Schaefer would return back into coverage, defend, and be ready if the ball came her way again. That freshman season put her in situations where she had to adapt quickly. This year, she doesn't have to experience those situations for the first time. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1022284,"_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-6a8ce532bfa3d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1022284' first='Freja' last='Wenker'] didn't seem bothered when a rally got a little ugly. She'd work her way to the second ball, get underneath it, and find an option rather than trying to do too much with it. There was a calmness to how she handled those points, especially for a freshman playing at that level. As she got more comfortable, you could see her making the decision instead of letting the play make it for her. That's the part of Wenker's freshman season that has me curious about what we'll see from her this fall. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <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. 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