Ball Control Standouts from the Harvest Festival Invite

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've covered <a href="https://prepdig.com/2022/09/outside-hitters-light-up-the-harvest-festival-invite/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2022/09/outside-hitters-light-up-the-harvest-festival-invite/">outside hitters</a> already, but it's time to give the ball control anchors their due.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talented setters and defensive specialists continue to permeate every corner of Nebraska. The Harvest Festival Invite demonstrated this, as Gothenburg hosted some small-town Nebraska teams with some big-time talent at the ball control positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep these setters and defensive specialists on your radar after last weekend's great volleyball display.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Running the Show</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This event had some impressive variety at the setter spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two-setter systems were a common sight in Gothenburg, and we talked about a couple of setter-hitters in the aforementioned outside hitter feature. Having two signal callers turned out to be the championship formula with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='173530' first='Mattie' last='Kamery'] and freshman <strong>Myla Emery</strong> forming a setting tandem for the undefeated Whippets. This duo is going to have a hand in a lot more wins for Minden this year, and the connection that these underclassmen have with their hitters is fascinating to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chadron has also regularly deployed two different setters during early-season action, and that carried into last weekend's invite. Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172602' first='Jaleigh' last='McCartney']</strong> and <strong>Kyndall Carnahan</strong> lead the way for the Cardinal offense that produced some nice moments against tough competition. I was excited to see this team join the Harvest Festival field from way out in the panhandle, and Chadron will keep honing their team chemistry in the weeks ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>York joins the two-setter gang with <strong>Reese Hirschfeld</strong> and <strong>Libby Troester</strong> dishing the ball for the Dukes. Hirschfeld has also taken her share of swings as a frontcourt hitter, so versatility should be a plus as York makes a return bid to the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye on the Harvest Festival's host team, too. Gothenburg junior <strong>Ashlyn Richeson</strong> has a wealth of talented athletes around her, and finding the right balance in this stacked offense can be difficult. Richeson makes it look easy, though, and this setter presented Gothenburg's hitters with a lot of one-on-one opportunities last weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1570877053502910464?s=20u0026t=4NgiZgWWTVr5GY1aiTH_Jg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1570877053502910464?s=20&amp;t=4NgiZgWWTVr5GY1aiTH_Jg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, not all the teams in Gothenburg deployed two setters in the starting rotation. <strong>Callie Squiers</strong> has taken the reins of Kearney Catholic's offense, and her combination of finesse and physicality has elevated the Stars to an 11-2 start this season. Likewise, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122753' first='Kasey' last='Schuster']</strong> has maintained her command of Aurora's setter spot and consistently puts her hitters in good positions to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Locking Down the End Line</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time for the defensive specialists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unsurprisingly, two of the top teams at this event were stout at the libero spot. Kearney Catholic's <strong>Maleigha Johnson</strong> was perhaps the steadiest defender in the gym last weekend. Her effortless command of first contact is such a crucial component in the Stars' offense. Whether it's in serve receive or floor defense, Johnson has an uncanny ability to deliver the ball right to her setter's head and facilitate plentiful opportunities for Kearney Catholic's frontcourt weapons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1570857606645948422?s=20u0026t=4NgiZgWWTVr5GY1aiTH_Jg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1570857606645948422?s=20&amp;t=4NgiZgWWTVr5GY1aiTH_Jg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minden got similar contributions from senior libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='106701' first='Bailey' last='Rogers']</strong>. Even when the Whippets are out of system, Rogers is incredibly reliable as a secondary setter and can keep her hitters in rhythm with perfect location. Clearly, Minden's unflappable ball control is spearheaded by a lot of different players and positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several other liberos made a strong impression at the Harvest Festival Invite, including Ogallala's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212051' first='Emily' last='VanBorkum']</strong> and <strong>Emily Cornwell</strong> of Gothenburg. It's no secret that small-town Nebraska has harbored some great defensive talent of the years, and that trend isn't going away with this latest wave of standout liberos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->