The Voice of the SoCal UpNext Setters Who Lead

Use code Coachable247 for 30% off. Sub<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe" data-type="link" data-id="prepdig.com/subscribe">prepdig.com/subscribe</a>scribe to follow every setter building her game through the SoCal UpNext Showcase pipeline.   Some setters run an offense quietly, letting their hands do the talking. Others treat their voice as just as important as their sets, using it to organize a defense, lift a teammate after a mistake, or keep a team's energy from dropping in a tight rotation. The SoCal UpNext Showcase brought together a group of setters whose answers revealed exactly that identity, athletes who see leadership and communication as core parts of the position, not an extra.    Kaloni Moala is still new to setting, and that newness shows up as hunger rather than hesitation. Her deep corner dumps catch a defense off guard, and she is sharpening her jump set to add another layer to her offense. She is loud and encouraging on the court, the kind of setter whose entire focus is making sure her teammates feel lifted up no matter the score. Outside of volleyball, she has a longtime hobby collecting figurines and Pokemon cards, a small window into someone who commits fully once something catches her interest.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Emma Kerdiles treats her voice as one of her most important tools on the court. She talks loudly and supports her teammates while delivering a set with real precision, and she is building faster hand speed and sharper court awareness so she can read a defense before it fully develops. She plays with high energy and fast feet, speaking up constantly, and her coaches call her one of the hardest workers in the gym. She also carries a dual identity outside the country's borders, splitting her background between American and French roots.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Kaya Dooley found her way to setting almost by accident, moving over from middle blocker, and she has embraced the switch with a hustler's mentality. She likes that the position keeps her moving and involved in every single play, a contrast to standing in one spot at the net. Her coach has called her the heart of the team, and she has already earned multiple best teammate awards at tournaments, a strong signal that her leadership shows up in how she treats people, not just how she sets. Outside of volleyball, she plays basketball and jokes that she can fall asleep pretty much anywhere.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Bella Luna leads with intensity and a refusal to let her team's energy drop. She plays every point at full speed and resets quickly after a mistake, treating a bad play as something to move past rather than dwell on. She keeps fighting even when her team is struggling, the kind of leader who makes sure nobody gives up until the match is actually over. Away from the court, she channels a different kind of focus into dance, creating her own choreography.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Brooke Keefe brings positivity as a built-in part of her leadership style. She has spent real time this offseason on her jump setting and footwork, and the strength behind her sets has noticeably grown as she works to become a more offensive threat from the position. She consistently brings energy and lifts others up, a trait that shows up whether her team is winning or grinding through a tough set. Outside of volleyball, she is deeply artistic, spending time bedazzling, crocheting, painting, and doing nails.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Cadence Hawk brings a competitive edge to both setting and hitting, and she takes just as much satisfaction setting up a teammate for a kill as she does getting one herself. She is running her sets at a faster tempo while also expanding her range as a hitter, refusing to stay limited to one part of the offense. She leads and supports her teammates in equal measure, and she hustles regardless of the moment. Outside the gym, she has ridden horses since she was four years old, competing in both English riding and jumping.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Shanelle Caldoza leads by staying adaptable across whatever position her team needs. Setting, hitting, and libero are all in her toolkit, each one letting her contribute in a different way, and she is sharpening her consistency and court awareness across all of them. She brings positive energy and helps her whole team stay focused, a leadership style that shows up in the little moments as much as the big ones. She also carries a rare distinction outside of volleyball, having sung with her school choir for the Pope in Rome, a moment that speaks to the same poise she brings to pressure situations on the court.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Nicolette Caldoza shares that same versatility and steady leadership as her sister. Setting and hitting both give her ways to help her team, and she is tightening her consistency, decision-making, and court awareness as she grows into a more complete player. She stays positive and supportive, bringing good energy that helps everyone around her stay confident. Like her sister, she has performed with her school choir for the Pope in Rome, an experience that reflects the same composure she brings into competitive matches.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Sahej Ahluwalia already treats setting as a craft worth studying, not just playing. She is working on her foot speed to give herself more time to think creatively during a rally, and she is developing her hitting to become a complete setter who can score when the opportunity is there. She leads calmly, holding herself to a high standard and staying locked in until the final point. Outside of volleyball, she is working on a research project that combines human biology with the science of sports, with hopes of publishing her findings within the next year.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Jacy Isaacs brings nonstop energy and communication to every rep. Her fundamentals, staying square with her feet, finding good locations, developing her jump set, are all sharp, but what stands out most is how constantly she talks to her teammates throughout a match. She competes with real fire and plays every point like it matters. Outside of volleyball, she sings, plays guitar, and draws, creative outlets that likely feed the same expressive energy she brings to the court.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Addison Conway finds control and confidence in the decision-making that comes with setting. She takes real ownership of the position, and she is refining her hand technique and contact on the ball to make her sets more precise. She plays with energy, respect, and warmth, while carrying a powerful presence her coach has singled out as leadership. She comes from a big family with five siblings, including an identical twin, and two of her older sisters also play competitive volleyball, a household clearly built around the sport.   ~ 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>   A setter's leadership often shows up in her voice before it ever shows up in a stat line, and the setters featured here are proof that communication is a skill worth building with the same intention as a jump set. PrepDig gives you three ways to build on that identity: showcases like UpNext put you in front of real evaluators outside of regular season play, our social media turns performances like these into content coaches and clubs actually see, and our articles start building your name around the habits that matter most at the position.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">📣 Club Coaches & Directors</h3>   A vocal, connected setter changes the tone of an entire team, and the athletes featured here show what it looks like when communication and leadership are being developed with real intention. Showcases like UpNext give your setters a chance to be evaluated specifically for those habits, outside of pool play pressure. PrepDig works as an extension of your program at every position, whether that means getting your setters seen or building recognition for the players who run your offense and hold your team together. 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>   This group represents young setters whose leadership, court communication, and connection with teammates already stand out at the middle school level. PrepDig exists to make long-range evaluation easier, combining live scouted events, consistent coverage, and detailed athlete profiles so you can start tracking the setters who lead with their voice, long before they reach your radar the traditional way. <a href="https://prepdig.com/college-subscribe/">Use a Premium College Subscription</a> to start building a book on this class as their games continue to evolve.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🙏 Parents & Supporters</h3>   A setter's leadership does not always show up in an obvious way, but the habits behind it, staying positive after a mistake, lifting a teammate up, communicating constantly, are exactly what will carry her into high school and beyond. PrepDig helps you understand that value through events that put her in front of real evaluators and articles that tell her story as a leader in the making.   🚀 <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"/>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://prepdig.com/events" data-type="link" data-id="prepdig.com/events">Need More Exposure? Attend a PrepDig Showcase</a></h2>   Use Code: MichelleBamford10 for $10 off on all Showcases   Our showcases are designed for athletes who want to take ownership of their recruiting journey and better understand how visibility, evaluation, and opportunity work together. These events offer more than competition. They provide athletes with a chance to learn how exposure works, compete in front of evaluators, build confidence, and gain valuable insight into what coaches are looking for at each stage of development.   Whether your goal is to improve communication, showcase your skills, earn recognition, receive meaningful evaluation, or simply learn how to stand out in a competitive environment, each showcase is built to help athletes grow both on and off the court. If you're ready to invest in your development, tell your story, and put yourself on the radar, <a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase" id="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">registration is open</a>.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/image_44584c.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1039891" style="aspect-ratio:1.1790813549386594;width:600px;height:auto"/></figure>   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Use code Coachable247 for 30% off. Subprepdig.com/subscribescribe to follow every setter building her game through the SoCal UpNext Showcase pipeline.