The Underclass Setters Who Controlled Their Court

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">Five setters, five ways to run an offense. Unlock full profiles with code Coachable247 for 30% off.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meet five underclass setters from the CIF-SS finals. [player_tooltip player_id='944110' first='Mina' last='Orbiso'] ran Long Beach Poly through a 16-14 fifth set. [player_tooltip player_id='515127' first='Riley' last='Stringer'] shared the setting for Mater Dei. [player_tooltip player_id='949338' first='Kerida' last='Leomiti'] worked beside Orbiso at Poly. [player_tooltip player_id='727583' first='Maliha' last='Kottoor'] kept Redondo Union in the match. [player_tooltip player_id='543170' first='Isabella' last='Spinella'] set 44 assists for Corona del Mar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The stat lines are strong, but the habits are what coaches should notice. They kept their feet moving, talked to their hitters and stayed simple when the gym got loud. Seniors who set in these matches, including [player_tooltip player_id='338908' first='Lucky' last='Fasavalu'], [player_tooltip player_id='533581' first='Kalea' last='Lee'], [player_tooltip player_id='391411' first='Marlo' last='Libbey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='542201' first='Keira' last='Overbeck'], and will be covered in other articles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["944110"],"_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-6af223f19ded4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='944110' first='Mina' last='Orbiso'] ran the Division 2 champions with 32 assists, an ace and 11 digs as a sophomore in a five set final. Poly hit .316, .357 and .429 in the first three sets, and she had 21 assists through that stretch. She sets a smooth ball and communicates so her hitters know exactly where she is going. In the fifth set she delivered a beautiful, smooth set to the outside, and in the fourth she kept giving her hitters maximum opportunity. She also served an ace in the third set. She has been on our radar since the 2025 Sunshine Classic, and she told us what the fifth set taught her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I learned while running an offense during a five set game that consistency is key. Staying consistent and calm during the fifth set is what kept us alive. Consistent serving, tempo and relentlessness is in the end what helped us win. As well as staying simple and making the right decisions during important moments.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That is a setter thinking about tempo, not highlights. College coaches tracking young setters who stay calm when a match gets long should put her on their list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long Beach Poly hosts Coronado tonight at 6 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["515127"],"_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-6af223f19defc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='515127' first='Riley' last='Stringer'] finished with 26 assists and five digs in the Division 1 title win, and she shared the setting with senior [player_tooltip player_id='533581' first='Kalea' last='Lee'], who added 22. Her hustle and the way she set up her hitters to have opportunity stood out all night. Mater Dei out-hit Sierra Canyon .230 to .204 and closed the fourth set 25-23 with her running the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am always impressed by how consistently she runs her offense. She keeps her court calm and collected.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She has been a steady presence in our coverage. She averaged 5.0 assists per set through 92 sets in our October list of juniors running the most offense, and she is ranked No. 1 in the state among setters and right sides. Before the Santa Margarita match she told me she controls the pace by staying calm and collected when the team feels anxious. She also told us what the job takes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“What I learned about running the offense at Mater Dei is truly how important it is to learn your hitters. What specific set is going to make them the most successful and what kinda relationship you need to set with them in order for trust to grow.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She is a 5'11" S/RS and a real attacking threat herself, so the defense has to guess. Hawai'i is getting a setter who understands that trust is part of the set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater Dei hosts Los Alamitos on Wednesday at 6 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["949338"],"_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-6af223f19df15"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='949338' first='Kerida' last='Leomiti'] set 22 assists for Poly, added three block assists and scored four kills. Her hands are quick from the first set on. In the second set she hit a tricky two-hand dump that went untouched for a kill, and she pressed the block to shut down an outside hitter. In the third she sealed the outside block with [player_tooltip player_id='740877' first='Alison' last='Wetteland'] and put up an effortless set to the outside. That dump gives Poly one more way to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She plays fast and athletic. She makes her sets look effortless as they glide to the perfect hittable position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before the final she told us what she was carrying into the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“One personal goal I'm carrying into Saturday will be me setting up my team for success, that is my job as a setter. And just doing my job, overall. It feels amazing to be able to be playing for a CIF title. It's such a blessing and honor. We have worked so hard all season and all our hard work is paying off. I'm so excited and can't wait!”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College coaches looking for a setter with quick hands, a dump that scores and a block that helps shut down the outside should have her on their list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She and Orbiso take the floor against Coronado tonight at 6 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["727583"],"_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-6af223f19df2c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='727583' first='Maliha' last='Kottoor'] finished with 18 assists, two aces and four digs for a Redondo team that pushed Poly to 16-14 in the fifth set. In the second set she set a back one from her knees with great accuracy. In the third she served an ace, and in the fourth she worked to take all of her balls and did not call for help. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='391411' first='Marlo' last='Libbey'] added 25 assists, and the two kept the Sea Hawks in reach all night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She does an excellent job of not making the easy set. She sets against tempo, which confused the blockers and gave her hitters more net to work with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I called her a spark plug at the Salt Lake City Showdown in April 2025, with sharp defensive reads and a setter who sets with strength and plays like she loves the game. The final showed the same player under pressure. Before the match she told us her goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“My goal for this game is to bring energy and lead a balanced offense to help my team win the title. It feels amazing knowing that all our hard work has been paying off and I'm so excited for this opportunity for my team and I!”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College coaches looking for a setter who brings energy, takes every ball and runs a balanced offense should have her on their list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Redondo Union hosts Corona del Mar tonight at 6 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["543170"],"_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-6af223f19df42"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='543170' first='Isabella' last='Spinella'] set 44 assists for the Division 3 champions. She also served seven aces, four of them in the third set, and added 13 digs. She is quick on the court, getting her feet under the ball to make the best set for her hitters. She seems to float when she delivers the ball to her middles, and she does not need a perfect pass to set the one. She split the Newbury Park blockers by setting the middle to [player_tooltip player_id='1060995' first='Cooper' last='Piercey'], and she checked in with all of her hitters on serve receive so the whole team was ready. She also made a great tip behind her head into left front and a one-hand dig out of the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She was one of the freshman setters I singled out at the PrepDig Showcase in Nevada in August 2024, when I wrote that those setters commanded their courts with confidence and poise. Corona del Mar hit .243 in the match with her leading the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College coaches searching for a setter who can run a team without a perfect pass and still deliver a hittable ball should put her on their list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Corona del Mar travels to Redondo Union tonight at 6 p.m., which puts Spinella across the net from Kottoor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What These Setters Showed Us</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setting comes down to a few habits: know where your hitters want the ball, keep your feet moving, stay calm when the scoreboard does not and keep it simple. Five underclassmen showed all of it, and we will see them again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watch how these five run their offenses from here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>All stats and results are sourced from MaxPreps</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Article Cover Photo Credit @shawnnvisuals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>🔥 Athletes</strong><br><a href="https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/">Update your PrepDig Prospect Index profile</a> so it's complete and current, with a photo, your club, your school and your latest film. Explore the player profiles featured in this article and see how other athletes are building their stories. Then share this article and tag your teammates. Visibility grows when you're part of the conversation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>📣 Club Coaches &amp; Directors</strong><br><a href="https://prepdig.com/california/clubs/club-programs/">Keep your club updated in the California Club Program Database</a> and stay connected to every opportunity we create for exposure. Celebrate the athletes from your program who were featured, and use this article to start a conversation about trajectory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>🎯 College Coaches</strong><br><a href="https://prepdig.com/college-subscribe/">Use a Premium College Subscription</a> to learn more about the whole athlete: full profiles, rankings, evaluations and the stories behind the stat line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>🙏 Parents &amp; Supporters</strong><br>Download the Prep Network app (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/prep-network/id6761510133">iPhone</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prepnetwork.app">Android</a>) to follow your athlete's journey and share this article with your family, your club and your community. Thank you for taking the time to read and support the exposure PrepDig provides for these athletes, and for helping us celebrate the work behind every name on this page.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>🚀 <strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a></strong><br>Access exclusive rankings, deeper analysis, and the full Prospect Index to follow every athlete's journey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://prepdig.com/events" data-type="link" data-id="prepdig.com/events">N<strong>eed More Exposure? Attend a PrepDig Showcase</strong></a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Use Code: MichelleBamford10 for $10 off on all Showcases</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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"><strong>registration is open</strong></a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/11/image_16c1a8.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058263"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->