Ball Control Stars from the Heartland Crossroads Invite

After checking out some of the high-octane attackers from the HAC Crossroads Invite, it's only fair that we address some of the athletes who held down the ball control phase.   And, like our first feature, we have no shortage of players to discuss here. While the frontcourt firepower was on full display last Saturday, these setters and defensive specialists put their teammates in great positions to score. This impact cannot be overlooked.     Relentless Defenders   Backcourt specialists were often the catalyst for momentum-changing plays at this tournament.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/IMG_9959-scaled-crop-1016x668-1662408987.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-223523" width="433" height="284" /><figcaption>Elena Estudillo (4) and Hofer patrol the Fremont backcourt at the Heartland Crossroads Invite.</figcaption></figure>   That was certainly the case for Fremont, a team that always seems to be stacked with defensive talent. Last weekend, we saw a wicked combination of Elena Estudillo, [player_tooltip player_id='213983' first='Bryleigh' last='Hofer'], and [player_tooltip player_id='83536' first='Emmalee' last='Sheppard'] holding down the end line for the Tigers. Estudillo is already a familiar name for the Fremont faithful, but Elena is a freshman newcomer who can carry on the libero family tradition after Elise Estudillo played her final high school season last fall. We're still discovering some names to know in the Class of 2026, and you can mark down the latest Estudillo iteration from Fremont.   Relentless defense has been a hallmark of Elkhorn South's recent success, too. That foundation isn't going away anytime soon with backcourt specialists like [player_tooltip player_id='187679' first='Sarah' last='Galligan'], [player_tooltip player_id='173519' first='Isabel' last='Junior'], Grace Henry, and Madeline Henry leading the way for the Storm. [player_tooltip player_id='189371' first='Paisley' last='Piatkowski'] has also made some stellar defensive contributions in addition to her role as an attacker. Such a vast array of multi-talented players will likely yield a variety of lineups this year, and Elkhorn South can always feel confident in its ability to pass and play defense.   It should be no surprise that Saturday's tournament champs have a solid backcourt group, too. Millard West made a big transfer pickup over the offseason and added 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='155037' first='Sierra' last='Pokharel'] to the mix at libero. Pokharel brings ample high-level experience on the club side and is meshing well with her new Wildcats squad. Ball control will be a huge factor in Millard West's journey back to Lincoln to improve on last year's runner-up finish.   Elsewhere in the gym, [player_tooltip player_id='464933' first='Kambry' last='Kachaturian'] has done an admirable job leading the Omaha Westview backcourt in the school's inaugural season. We're also seeing a youth movement at Lincoln North Star's defensive specialist spot, as sophomore Ivanna Ramos-Berrios took over libero duties for the Gators through most of Saturday's action.     The Perfect Setup   Now, a word on the setters. The Heartland Crossroads Invite hosted plenty of good ones.   If you're looking for senior leadership from this group, that veteran presence came from Millard West senior [player_tooltip player_id='104588' first='Skylar' last='Walters']. Before this talented signal-caller heads to Minnesota State next fall, she has another shot to lead her team back to the state championships after taking the reins of the offense last year. As usual, Walters put her hitters in some great spots last weekend and looked poised for another standout season with the Wildcats.   Other teams in this invitational have younger athletes who are starting to show their natural skills at the setter spot. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='189370' first='Julia' last='Ringenberg'] is one such player for Elkhorn South. The Storm are clearly looking to this 2025 athlete to fill some big shoes at that position, and Ringenberg has shown the poise needed to take on those responsibilities.   Fremont's [player_tooltip player_id='189375' first='Kate' last='Denker'] is another sophomore setter to know. She plays scrappy floor defense alongside the Tiger defensive specialists we already discussed, but Denker also has the finesse needed to run the offense.   You can also consider last weekend as another successful outing for [player_tooltip player_id='109588' first='Abby' last='Lottman'], a junior setter who has plenty of experience leading the Navigator attack. Her savvy distribution keeps everyone in the North Star lineup involved, making the team that much more difficult to defend. When Lottman is finding that groove, look out for her young squad.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1566072845951803392?s=20u0026t=EBcQvjs16soSvNi4KJuSDw </div></figure>

After checking out some of the high-octane attackers from the HAC Crossroads Invite, it's only fair that we address some of the athletes who held down the ball control phase.