A Closer Look: Arkansas Setters to Watch this Club Season

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Round One</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout November and December, I'll be highlighting players I'm excited to watch this club season, starting with the setters, the ones that run the show. I'm opening with some players who haven't received as much coverage, then working my way up to the big dogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I want to get more eyes on these players and take a closer look myself. Each article will cover what caught my attention and what I want to learn about their game once club season gets rolling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["782057"],"_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-6af3587f4aa08"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Okay, so Caroline is my top player in the 2030 class, but there is a lot to evaluate here. She spent this season on the freshman team at Benton, and moving into her 15s year for 501 is going to allow her to shine. I watched her earlier this high school preseason, and there is a lot to like. She's got the IQ and the size, and she is refining her skill set. At 5'11", she will garner plenty of attention from college coaches and evaluators.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caroline can hit from the pins well, but it is how she flows on the court that I really like. She is advanced in the craft of setting, and with continued work under the tutelage of Eric Everson at [program_tooltip program_id='581540' first='501' last='Volley'], I see big things ahead. She has the hands and is learning more and more about placement. Stearns is going to be great. I don't doubt that she will put the work in. It is exciting to think about how far she will go! Follow her on the [program_tooltip program_id='581540' first='501' last='Volley'] 15.1 National team this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["758569"],"_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-6af3587f4aa2c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I have been able to catch a glimpse of Ellie in live action. She's quick, aggressive, and places the ball where her hitters can be productive. I am really going to pay a lot more attention this club season. The 2030 class has a lot of talent in it, and I expect Ellie to stay in and around the top 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Foster has a supporting cast that will get a lot of looks as well, playing for the Ozark Jrs. 15 Premier team. They will face top competition from across the country, and it will be fun to evaluate them all. Ellie will grow a lot this season with the opportunities ahead. The more I get to see, the more I will add to her evaluation. But I like what I have seen so far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1022656"],"_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-6af3587f4aa45"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was able to watch Carter play last season for EVA 14 Elite. I really enjoy watching players who just love playing the game. Chance is one of those players. She has a great personality and keeps her team up and active on the court. Working with Sydney Vance of EVA (HSU assistant coach), Carter will learn the finer points of the position. She has an excellent cast around her, and they will play in top-tier action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter has very soft hands and delivers what I call a quiet ball. You don't hear it come off her hands. She has great control and gets to work around one of the best pure setters in Arkansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='774294' first='Lily' last='Parker'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["765967"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af3594a20006"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700","anchor":"acf-block-6af3594a20006"} --> <p class="text-gray-700" id="acf-block-6af3594a20006">I got to see more of Hadleigh than I actually expected this season. Had is a very strong setter. She has a physicality some others don't possess and her experience hitting helps her understand ball placement and tempo. Jones was able to step into more touches on varsity this season for Greenbrier because of her hard work and willingness to be coached. When I coached, eye contact was very big for me. Made me feel like a player was paying attention. I recognized this with Hadleigh when she would come off the court. Always engaged, always ready to learn. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"anchor":"acf-block-6af3594a20006"} --> <p id="acf-block-6af3594a20006">She is a bit of tweener at 5'8" between being a solid 6-2 or 5-1 setter. Her IQ, strength and coachability makes her a great player to work with. I am excited to see here move to [program_tooltip program_id='581540' first='501' last='Volley']'s 16-1 National team. She is going to continue to grow and get a ton of reps against top competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["775960"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af3594a2007a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libby had the opportunity to move up to varsity this past summer but chose to spend one more year in junior high. She helped her ninth-grade team win conference, finishing with 208 assists, 128 kills, 63 aces, and 13 blocks, according to her coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those numbers show how much she contributed as both a setter and an attacker. I'm excited to watch her with [program_tooltip program_id='581540' first='501' last='Volley'] 15-1 with her teammate listed above, Caroline Sterns, this club season and get a closer look at how she runs an offense against different competition. Both players have seen from their older siblings the effort it takes to get to the next level. Lauren Latham is a setter for Kansas State and Parker Sterns is a pin hitter for Arkansas State. You can bet these two will carve out their own path.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1017953"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af3594a200e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Micah was able to start for Shiloh as a freshman and as a sophomore. In those two seasons she has amassed 217 sets played, 774 assists, 3.6 ast/s, 99 aces and 247 digs. Strong foundation to work off of. I have reviewed video of Micah and seen her a little bit in person this fall. She is a talented setter with the IQ of a vet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A little on the smaller side at 5'5" but will make an excellent 6-2 setter as her career progresses. Unger reads the block very well giving her hitters the best opprotunity to make the kill. Stepping up into the 6A West means she's faced some of the best the state has to offer, so I expect her to keep her composure well this club season for Ozarks Jrs. 16 Elite. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["992443"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36d92741aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jayden wise is very similar to [player_tooltip player_id='765967' first='Hadleigh' last='Jones'] in terms of size and strength. Last season as a 16, she stepped in to a role with the EVA 17 Elite after [player_tooltip player_id='763428' first='Mia' last='Adams'] tore her ACL and in the words of club director Tanja Eckart, </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She's made a big leap since the start of the season. Probably our most improved player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She is an emerging young setter that will get her chance to shine this season with the EVA 17 Elite working alongside [player_tooltip player_id='774294' first='Lily' last='Parker'] and with a strong roster around her. Wise is tough, strong and extremely coachable. She will put in the work and continue to climb in our rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1063272"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36d92741fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Caitlyn is a new name on my radar. Coach Kyle Reed from the NWA Storm said he can't wait to work with her. Jones is very athletic and can play all three front row positions if needed. But at 5'9" at 15 years old, she can turn into a tremendous asset for the Storm and for the Bentonville Tigers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Give me a setter that has played on the front row. One that understands where you need the ball to be effective. If she is coachable and picks up the finer points of the position, watch out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm looking forward to getting more time in the gym with these setters and seeing how their games develop this club season. Next up are the middles, with another group of players I want to get a closer look at.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Have a player I should watch? Send me a message.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robert Birch | Prep Dig Arkansas<br>X: @prepdigrob | Instagram: @prepdigarrob</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->