Top Ten Uncommitted Setters in DMV Area

Now that the qualifiers in the 14-17 age groups have begun it is time to take a look at some quality setters in the DMV area who have yet to commit. Only one of these setters belongs to the class of 2025 but she plays for Paramount 17. When looking at these setters the one common theme they generate is their teams win.   [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - Avery stands out as the lone class of 2025 in this group. For her senior year she transferred from St. Johns to Bishop O'Connell. For the Knights it turned into a perfect fit after losing three year setter Erin Debiec to graduation. Avery assimilated with her teammates well and for their first time in their school history for volleyball the Knights won the WCAC as well as the VISAA state championships. Avery set a 5/1 for most of the season, pausing only to give frosh [player_tooltip player_id='612396' first='Natalie' last='Hobson'] a chance to set. She finished fourth in the state of Virginia in assists, despite missing the first three matches of the season because of a minor injury.   For club she sets for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 17. They played in the Triple Crown finishing 45th out of 108 teams. Their next big event is the Northeast Regionals where they will play in the Open Division followed by the local Chesapeake Bid Regional championships. Avery ranks number 32 in the class of 2025 but fifth for players who have yet to commit. Three setters ranked ahead of her have committed.    This past season Aubrey set Courtland to the finals of the Virginia class 4 state championships. They lost to two time defending state champions James Wood but they took them to five. Aubrey set both a 5/1 as well as a 6/2 during the season. When setting a 6/2 she stayed in the front row to hit right side.   I have yet to see [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] play this year. When viewing the roster Aubrey shares setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='464563' first='Elizabeth' last='Robinson']. They are the fourth ranked local team in the Old Dominion Region. With [player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo'] recently committing to Columbia Aubrey now stands out as the highest ranked setter in the class of 2026 yet to commit.   At 5'11" she shares the top spot as the tallest setter on this top ten list. She also shows outstanding leadership qualities after being named floor captain for the Cougars during her first year with the team.   The next big event for [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] is the Shamrock Showdown this weekend. They are the defending champions in the 17/18 open when they played last year as 16's.     Another setter who orchestrated an offense leading Bullis to their first AA ISL championship in school history. Previously, Flint Hill had won all the championships going back to 2011. For the most part Megan set a 5/1. Despite her 5'9" height she still brought the hops to the right side contributing 21 blocks, three of them solo.   For Virginia Juniors Megan plays down a year. Two years ago she played up a year. The change was made to allow her to run a 5/1 with a talented roster that at any one time can put five players at the net listed at 6'0" or greater. Megan runs a fast tempo offense with enough deception to allow their pin hitters to hit against single blocks. Last year they earned a bid in the USA Division falling one win short of making it to the gold bracket.   Virginia Juniors next big match is the Chesapeake Regional Bid championships. They currently rank number 39 in the country.     This past season Sofie set for a Woodson high school team rocked by the departure of two of their top hitters, one to graduation and the other to a move out of state. Despite these losses Sofie helped salvage the season with her quality setting. Woodson somehow finished above .500, falling one win shy of making it to the state championship bracket.   Sofie led the team in assists and services aces, but surprisingly finished second in blocks and fourth in kills. She also led the team in kill percentage. She turned the setting position into an offensive machine.   With Virginia Elite she sets a 5/1 and also shares setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='377335' first='Mackenzie' last='Davis']. You can watch her in action this weekend when they play in the Open Division in the Northeast Qualifiers.     This past season Sydney set Riverside to the class 5 state championship. For her efforts she garnered first team All-Conference, All Region as well as All State honors. She also won most valuable player for the conference and the region. Sydney carries a healthy, confident swagger on the court. Despite a team filled with junior national team players and first team All Americans Sydney brings the leadership to the floor.   Don't let her 5'8" height scare you about her front row potential. She brings a 9'8' approach jump and a 9'3" block jump to the court. When she plays in the front row she can carry the blocking load.   For club she sets for Virginia Juniors. They recently played in the Sunshine Qualifier, finishing ninth out of 86 teams in the USA Division. They earned their way into the gold bracket but lost in the first round. Their next big weekend will be the Chesapeake Bid Regional Championships on March 22.       Taryn set a 5/1 for Wootton. She carried them to the Maryland Class 3 State finals where they eventually lost to North Hagerstown. She was team captain while also earning first team all county.   This is her second season setting for Metro. The team carries two other quality setters so she shares setting time with [player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge'] (Syracuse) and [player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo'] (Columbia). With all the quality pin hitters on Metro she sets a 6/2. A quality setter definitely worth a look.   Metro will be playing this weekend in the Northeast Qualifier in Philadelphia.     Charlotte set Churchill to the semi-finals of the Maryland class 4 state championship where they lost in five to eventual state champion Richard Montgomery. The third set ended 15-12. Her play earned her a first team selection on the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) All County first team.   For MVSA Blaze Charlotte sets a 6/2. One attribute that impresses me about her game is her tough serve. For the Blaze they can accumulate points with her serving and setting when she plays back row. A quiet, unassuming setter who gets the job done.   MVSA next plays in the Shamrock Showdown this weekend at St. James.    [player_tooltip player_id='495264' first='Ela' last='Shepherd'] ([program_tooltip program_id='506397' first='River' last='Valley Juniors']) - Ela combines quality setting with powerful hitting when she plays right side. For Christiansburg she got them to the semi-final of the Class 3 Virginia State playoffs where they eventually lost to their nemesis and conference rival Hidden Valley. Despite the loss Ela earned a selection on the Class 3 All State first team. She finished the season first in service aces, first in assists, second in kills and second in digs. At 5'10" she is one of the taller setters on this list.   Ela sets for [program_tooltip program_id='506397' first='River' last='Valley Juniors'] 18 team. They recently competed in the Triple Crown where they finished a respectable 41st out of 96 teams. They recently won the Old Dominion Regional Bid championship. Their next big test is the Mideast Qualifiers later this month. [program_tooltip program_id='506397' first='River' last='Valley Juniors'] carries Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year libero [player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn'] (Kansas State) as well as left side [player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor'] (Ole Miss). Those two finished first and fifth in the state of Virginia for kills.    Geneivieve is another one of those tall setters at 5'10" who can both set and hit on the right side. She caught my attention at the Prep Dig showcase earning a top performer award and has been on my radar ever since.   For Severna Park she finished first in assists, second in digs and blocks as well as third in kills. She is a player who can do it all.   Columbia Volleyball Academy always seems to do a pretty good job of developing setters. It appears she sets a 5/1 for them since she is the only rostered setter. They have finished in the top three in four tournaments this year. Their next big tournament will be the Chesapeake Bid Regional Championships on March 22.    [player_tooltip player_id='484751' first='Riley' last='Erwin'] ([program_tooltip program_id='549544' first='Club' last='757']) - At 5'11" Riley also stands out as one of those setters who also stays in the front row to hit on the right side. She carried Kellam to the finals of the Virginia Class 5 state championships stringing together 13 kills and 11 assists in the finals against Riverside. She also stood out as one of those setters who brought multiple skills to the court, finishing first in assists and serving aces, second in blocks and third in kills. Her 5'11" height is tied with [player_tooltip player_id='397536' first='Aubrey' last='Parker'] as the tallest for setters on this list. She also earned a selection as a Class 5 first team All State with [player_tooltip player_id='333651' first='Sydney' last='Ray'].   Riley sets for 757 Black. They finished in the middle of the pack at the MAPL in the 16-18 Black Division. Their next big tournament is the Mideast Qualifier in Indy.

Now that the qualifiers in the 14-17 age groups have begun it is time to take a look at some quality setters in the DMV area who have yet to commit. Only one of these setters belongs to the class of 2025 but she plays for Paramount 17. When looking at these setters the one common theme they generate is their teams win.