Setters and Back Row: Durango's Conductors

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe" data-type="link" data-id="prepdig.com/subscribe">Use code Coachable247 for 30% off. Subscribe to read about the biggest volleyball weekends of September.</a>   Kills might get the highlight but these are the players making sure there's a ball to hit in the first place.   Setters and back row athletes run the parts of the game that rarely show up on a stat sheet. A setter's decision-making dictates who gets the ball and when. A libero or defensive specialist's read on a hitter is the difference between a dig and a point given away.   This is the group keeping the offense running and the defense standing.    Kalea already has a matchup circled for the weekend. "I hope we face Sierra Canyon at some time, I think it would be a great match and we definitely could prove a couple of things," she said.   Her game lives on the defensive end of the position, reading opposing setters and playing behind the block with precision. "I think as a setter one of my biggest strengths is my defense, I'm able to read setters and figure out where they're going and I'm able to play behind the block really well, so if something happens I'm right there," she said. This season, she's locked in on her serve, working to turn her time behind the line into points.   Leadership is where she separates herself beyond her hands. She holds her team accountable and helps everyone move past mistakes quickly instead of dwelling on them. What she wants noticed most is her energy, especially in how she celebrates.   She's aiming for the next level, hoping volleyball takes her somewhere she can keep competing and inspiring others chasing the same path. She's already in conversation with college programs as she works through the process.   Outside of volleyball, she's a talented baker.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Hana is looking forward to a rare kind of experience, seeing elite volleyball up close. "I am looking forward to seeing the level of volleyball that these girls are at so up close and being able to play these amazing athletes would be such a cool once in a lifetime experience," she said.   She sets the tone for her team through attitude, staying positive on and off the court even when things aren't going well. This season, she's sharpening her decision-making, working on when and who to set in the most pressure-filled moments, alongside her strength training.   When a match gets tough, she leans on encouragement, choosing to highlight what her teammates did well instead of dwelling on mistakes in an already emotional moment. What she wants noticed most isn't a stat. It's her willingness to go up and challenge a block, even against bigger competition, if given the chance.   She's early in the recruiting process, and her biggest hope for what volleyball teaches her is discipline, learning from mistakes and correcting them before they repeat.   Outside of volleyball, she was born and raised in Thailand and speaks Thai fluently.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Even as one of the youngest names in this group, Makala isn't shying away from a challenge. "I am hoping to play a hard team so we can push our team to its limits no matter if it is a win or loss. I'm hoping we find our max potential to see what we can do. And personally I want for us to prove that even though we are young we still have great competitive talent," she said.   Her sets, volleyball IQ, and serving are what her team relies on most, built on knowing when to play it safe and when to take a risk. This season, she's focused on building a stronger defensive base to keep rallies alive and set her team up to score.   When things get difficult, she leans into encouraging her teammates, pushing everyone toward their best. What she wants noticed most is how her energy and decision-making shape the flow of the game around her.   She's just beginning to build her college list, with sights set on a high level program, D1 or D2, and beyond that, the idea of playing professionally someday.   Outside of volleyball, she's left-handed and loves a good conversation, so don't be shy about starting one.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Sophie's focus for the weekend is simple. Win, have fun, and compete at a high level with her team.   Communication with her hitters is what defines her game, along with a coachability that shapes everything she does on the court. This season, she's building stronger defense as a setter and tightening her connections with her hitters to keep the offense running smoothly.   When things get tough, she becomes the one hyping her team up, reminding her teammates how good they are and that a win is still within reach. Her work ethic is what she hopes stands out most, the effort she puts in to do right by her team every time she's setting.   As a senior, her goal is simple: have an incredible final season and help her team make a real push in the playoffs. She's not currently pursuing college volleyball.   Outside of volleyball, she's a walking encyclopedia of movies and actors.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     For Brylee, this weekend is about the experience itself. "Just to experience this opportunity with my team," she said, is what she's looking forward to most.   Her volleyball IQ is what stands out most in her game right now, and she's using this season to sharpen her passing. When things get difficult, her body language is what she leans on, working to stay positive no matter the moment.   What she wants noticed most isn't one specific skill. It's simply how she plays the game.   Brylee has decided this will be her final season of competitive volleyball, closing out her career on her own terms rather than continuing at the next level.   Outside of volleyball, she loves reading and working out.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Ella Hinton Committed: Casper College   Ella is looking forward to the level of competition Durango brings. "I think it'll be really fun to play challenging teams and I think it will make us better mentally and physically," she said.   Serve receive is where she's built her reputation, consistently putting a clean pass on her setter to get the offense started. This season, she's working on reading hitters earlier and lining up ahead of the attack to make her defense easier. She's also the type of teammate who squeezes the hands of the passers next to her between plays, a small gesture that lets them know they're supported.   What she hopes stands out most is her energy, the kind of presence that doesn't show up on a stat sheet but shapes a match anyway.   With her college decision already made, Ella is excited to keep playing at whatever level continues to challenge her.   Outside of volleyball, she loves being active outdoors, hiking, taking drives, and running the occasional fun marathon.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Lily is excited for the level of competition Durango brings and the chance to play good volleyball alongside her team.   Communication and presence are what define her game right now. This season, she's working on becoming a stronger leader, someone willing to take charge in the biggest moments. When things get difficult, she takes on both a competitive and supportive role, working to get her team back in rhythm.   Her energy, on and off the court, is what she hopes stands out most when people watch her play.   She hopes volleyball carries her through college and beyond, into whatever career she ends up chasing next. She's already reaching out to coaches as she begins that process.   Outside of volleyball, she loves her dogs and spending time with friends.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Savanna and her team are bringing pure excitement into the weekend. "Me and my team are so excited for the Durango Classic! We hope that all our hard work and preparation will show in this tournament. We are going to see how it goes and we are so excited to just have fun with all the amazing competition," she said.   Her passing is what her team leans on in the back row, along with a consistency that keeps one bad play from turning into two. This season, she's working on becoming a more well-rounded attacker and defender, putting in extra reps on her own time to build that confidence. Communication is constant for her, making sure everyone on the court knows what's happening.   When things get tough, she becomes one of the louder voices on the floor, refusing to let her team get stuck on a mistake. What she hopes stands out most is her movement and involvement, even on plays where the ball isn't coming directly to her.   Her biggest goal is simple: play volleyball in college and compete at the highest level she can reach. She's just beginning to learn the recruiting process and has started building her list.   Outside of volleyball, her first language was Russian, and she spent time going to school in Ukraine.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Mackenzie is excited to see what her team accomplishes and how far they can push themselves throughout the tournament.   Scrappiness and quickness define her game, the ability to track down tough balls and keep plays alive. This season, she's intentionally working on taking more court in serve receive, expanding her range to cover even more ground. She sees communication and energy as the only real path to winning, and she brings both every time she's on the floor.   What she hopes stands out most is her footwork and how quickly she closes on a ball, the kind of detail that shapes a defense without ever showing up in a stat line.   Beyond high school, Mackenzie plans to continue her volleyball career on the beach, still deciding where that next chapter will take her.   Outside of volleyball, she loves being outdoors, hiking, swimming, and biking, and she's chasing a future in pre-med, a path partly inspired by her love of Grey's Anatomy.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Cedra Talaga Committed: University of Illinois   Cedra is stepping into this weekend with real belief in how far her team has come. "I truly believe we've come a long way as a team, and this tournament will be a great opportunity to challenge ourselves and show how much we've grown," she said.   Serve receive, court presence, leadership, and volleyball IQ are the pillars of her game, and she takes pride in reading the court and staying composed when the pressure is highest. She's never satisfied though. This season, she's chasing improvement in every category, from defense to out-of-system play, while studying college matches and applying what she learns from players at her position to her own game.   What defines her most is how she helps teammates push through adversity. She's competed in enough high-pressure moments to know that mistakes are part of the game, and what matters is how a player resets and moves forward. That next-point mentality is what she brings to her team every time things get difficult.   With her college decision already made, Cedra's vision extends well past her playing career. She hopes to eventually play professionally and one day return to coach and run camps for the next generation of athletes who share her passion for the game.   Outside of volleyball, she describes herself as very adventurous.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Sara Gonzalez Committed: LSU   Sara is walking into Durango with something to prove. "I feel like our team has a lot to prove because we need to have rematches against some of our losses we've had this year," she said.   Consistency in serve receive and difficult defensive plays are what her team counts on, and she prides herself on being the difference maker who keeps her team calm in tough situations. She holds her teammates to the highest standard, and she believes accountability paired with encouragement is what pushes a team forward.   What she wants noticed most is her energy, the kind of supportive presence that shows up in every rally, not just the highlight ones.   With her college decision already made, Sara's goals are set high. She wants to become the best player she can be and chase SEC Libero of the Year honors down the road.   Outside of volleyball, she's deeply into fitness and nutrition, living an active lifestyle on and off the court.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🔥 Athletes</h3>   Take time to explore the player profiles featured in this article. Look at how they built their profile, how they presented themselves, and what their evaluations say about the habits that got them there. If you're still early in your own recruiting process, this is not the time to compare your timeline to theirs. It's time to be honest with yourself about what's left to do. Reach out to coaches. Follow up on interest. Make sure your film, your evaluations, and your profile reflect where your game is right now, not where it was last season.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">📣 Club Coaches & Directors</h3>   Celebrate the athletes from your program who were featured. Some of your athletes are already building real momentum with coaches. Others are still figuring out what the process looks like, and this is the stretch where your guidance matters most. Help them understand which conversations to prioritize, which opportunities are worth chasing, and how to present themselves as they head into a new high school season. Share this article and keep the sense of urgency honest without making it feel like pressure. Keep your club updated with the <a href="https://prepdig.com/california/clubs/club-programs/">California Club Program Database</a> and stay connected to every opportunity we create for exposure.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🎯 College Coaches</h3>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/college-subscribe/">Use a Premium College Subscription</a> to identify additional sophomore prospects who may still be flying under the radar this season.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🙏 Parents & Supporters</h3>   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> Access exclusive rankings, deeper analysis, and the full Prospect Index to follow every athlete's journey.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

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