High Schools with Setters Who Can Spark an Offense

The setter is the quaterback of the team. They can be overlooked, but a high school that does not have a good setter will probably be stagnant. The ability to set a quick middle will open up the outsides. Having the diversity to set multiple tempos to all quadrants of the net will keep blockers guessing. If they become too predictable the offense will sputter.   Below are the high schools that carry on their roster some of the top club setters. If they have the hitters that bring some juice to their spikes you can expect a successful season.   [player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181179' first='Chloe' last='Wilmot'] (Alexandria City) - There is a reason they have won a State Championship (as TC Williams in 2020) and were 24-1 last year, losing their only game in the State playoffs in five to Herndon. Both Chloe and Milan were named to the first team All State last year, just two of three juniors named to the team. At 5'11" Milan has the height and the intelligence to be an effective right side hitter or set a 5/1. Chloe has a sweet back set that creates a lot of diversity to her game. The two seniors have combined the last two years to make Alexandria City one of the top high schools in Northern Virginia. Milan has committed to U.C. Santa Barbara while Chloe has committed to Duquesne.   [player_tooltip player_id='180281' first='Erin' last='Debiec'] (Bishop O'Connell) - The 6'1" junior can either set a 5/1 or a 6/2 and hit from the right side. The challenge is finding a second setter that brings her consistency that would allow her to hit outside. The Knights have lost their two left sides from last year so they could use Erin on the right side to supplement the offense. Even if she has to set in the front row she can still be a weapon with her ability to dump. Erin is a big reason Bishop O'Connell was ranked the number two high school in the D,C. area last year (Washington Post) and won the WCAC championship for the first time since 1995. She was voted to the first team All WCAC and first team All State.   [player_tooltip player_id='180283' first='Natalie' last='Nguyen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin'] (Flint Hill)<img class="wp-image-186087" style="width: 150px;" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/03/Isabel.jpg" alt="">They were the Independent school State champions and the number one team in the DC area as voted on by the Washington Post. For the most part the quarterback of this offense was junior [player_tooltip player_id="180283" first="Natalie" last="Nguyen"] running a 5/1. She stands only 5'5" but there is probably no more accurate setter in the area. She sets a quick tempo offense leaving opposing blockers off balance. It is possible that Flint Hill will use sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin'] as a setter in 2022 and run a 6/2. At 6'0" she has the height to impact the front row but lacks the experience setting at the high school level. Isabelle did win the MVP award at the 15 Open Capital Hill Classic so the talent is there.   [player_tooltip player_id='209175' first='Trisha' last='Guevara'] (Stonebridge) - Trisha is another setter that only stands 5'5", but there is no greater competitor on the court. The now senior led her high school to the Class 5 State championship last year and was voted to the first team All State, one of only two players who were not seniors voted to the team. She has played libero so she stands her ground when playing defense at the setter position. If you are looking for a team catalyst Trisha is your girl.   [player_tooltip player_id='181181' first='Kaitlyn' last='Owens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181244' first='Ryan' last='Hicks'] (Broad Run) - Broad Run struggled as a team last year but they are one of three high schools that have two setters listed on their roster who are also ranked by Prep Dig. The sophomore 5'11 [player_tooltip player_id='181244' first='Ryan' last='Hicks'] can almost reach 10 feet in her vertical block and set for Metro 15. Senior 5'10" [player_tooltip player_id="181181" first="Kaitlyn" last="Owens"] is the more experienced setter playing for Virginia Elite 17. The key will be whether Broad Run will have the offensive pieces capable of passing balls to the setter and putting the sets away.   [player_tooltip player_id='180284' first='Chloe' last='Hokenson'] (Langley) - The 6'1 junior will have the pieces to run an offense. Langley has at least three solid hitters that can put the ball away. You can also add Chloe to that list as well. She can provide an effective block at the net and put the ball away when it wanders to close to the net. Langley will be an interesting team to watch this year. Chloe is ranked 10th in our 2024 prep rankings and the number three setter in the class.   [player_tooltip player_id='180285' first='Clara' last='Yu'] (Sidwell Friends) - The now junior 5'9" [player_tooltip player_id='180285' first='Clara' last='Yu'] was voted to the first team in the Independent School League (ISL) conference. Clara was one of the setters for Metro 16, rated as one of the top five clubs in the country. She has a vertical block of just over 9 feet. Her hands are nice and she moves quickly to the ball. If Sidwell can find the offensive weapons they have a quality setter that can feed them.   [player_tooltip player_id='181196' first='Arleigh' last='Hanson'] (West Potomac) - At 6'1" Arleigh has the height to be an impact player at the net. The senior is also our fourth ranked setter for the class of 2023, but third for the Northern Virginia area. The Navy commit sets with [player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex'] for Metro 17. Arleigh was used in a 6/2 with Metro but she could set a 5/1 if West Potomac lacks a consistent second setter.   [player_tooltip player_id='181242' first='Shylah' last='Swope'] (Herndon) <img class="wp-image-186080" style="width: 150px;" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/03/Shy.jpg" alt="">The 5'9" sophomore appears to play a little beach to enhance her indoor game. Last year Herndon was one of the surprise teams, losing to Colgan in the finals of the State championship. They have lost Washington Post player of the year Akasha Anderson to Auburn so it may be more of a challenge this year to make the playoffs. One position where they are not lacking is setter, where Shylah was the lone frosh from the varsity roster and our top ranked setter for the class of 2025.   [player_tooltip player_id='200199' first='Ava' last='Ray'] (Riverside) - At 5'7" the senior may not be blessed with height, but she has a good vertical to get her hands over the net and the quickness to get to the ball. She set for Virginia Juniors last year, who won a qualifying bid for the nationals. Juniors was just one win away from earning a spot in the gold bracket in the Freedom Division. Ava runs the quicks in the middle well and could run a 5/1.   Tryouts public high schools have begun. It will be interesting to see what other setters emerge.

The setter is the quaterback of the team. They can be overlooked, but a high school that does not have a good setter will probably be stagnant. The ability to set a quick middle will open up the outsides. Having the diversity to set multiple tempos to all quadrants of the net will keep blockers guessing. If they become too predictable the offense will sputter.