It is rare to see a middle blocker in one year transforms into a setter the next year. That defines the transformation of Neely this year. She has done an excellent job taking over for Brie Mouton Brie Mouton 5'7" | S Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA running the BAVA offense. It appears she is the tallest player on the team, but her hands are soft and her sets are accurate.

Even with that height she doesn’t focus on putting the ball over the net in two when in the front row. She distributes her sets well and on occasion generates a kill in the front row to force the defense to keep an eye on her.

It will be an interesting dilemma for the Broadneck coach next year with three quality setters on the roster. Last year they had three setters but Alexis Luscomb Alexis Luscomb 5'9" | S Broadneck | 2029 State VA shifted to the libero role. This year they may also have three setters with Barrett Bolter Barrett Bolter 5'8" | S Broadneck | 2027 State VA , Alexis and Neely with a fourth setter Lexi Britton Lexi Britton 5'7" | S Broadneck | 2028 VA who rarely gets an opportunity.

Last year Brie Mouton Brie Mouton 5'7" | S Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA set a 5/1 for BAVA. She left to play for Metro National this year. Stepping up to set is the 6’1″ Neely Olish Neely Olish 6'1" | S/MB Broadneck | 2029 State VA . Last year she played middle for BAVA. Watching her set this year clearly shows she has the ability to move the ball around the net with pretty good accuracy. Also, while in the front row she is a threat to dump the ball over the net.

For Broadneck she saw little playing time as a middle. Barrett Bolter Barrett Bolter 5'8" | S Broadneck | 2027 State VA and Alexis Luscomb Alexis Luscomb 5'9" | S Broadneck | 2029 State VA are bot setters for Metro as well as possible future setters for Broadneck. This past season Alexis played libero while Sydney Lawrence Sydney Lawrence 5'9" | S Broadneck | 2026 State VA set from the front row as well as blocked middle. Neely has a couple inches on Sydney which would allow her to take that same role.

It will be interesting to see where the road takes Neely. She certainly has the skills to be an accomplished setter. Her height makes it even more intriguing.

When Bay Area Volleyball Club (BAVA) lost setter Brie Mouton Brie Mouton 5'7" | S Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA to Metro National they needed to find another setter. It appears to have come from a very unlikely source in 6’1″ middle Neely Olish Neely Olish 6'1" | S/MB Broadneck | 2029 State VA .

At our last Prep Dig showcase she won a top performer award as a middle hitter. Now she is turning her attention to setting. Like Brie Mouton Brie Mouton 5'7" | S Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA did last year she is setting a 5/1.

It is not an easy transition however Neely seems to have a fondness for setting. That is half the battle. For Broadneck Sydney Lawrence Sydney Lawrence 5'9" | S Broadneck | 2026 State VA graduated leaving three setters in Barrett Bolter Barrett Bolter 5'8" | S Broadneck | 2027 State VA , Lexi Britton Lexi Britton 5'7" | S Broadneck | 2028 VA and Alexis Luscomb Alexis Luscomb 5'9" | S Broadneck | 2029 State VA . Last year Alexis played libero for Broadneck but she has returned to setting for Metro. It will be interesting how this all works out.

The biggest skill Neely needs to work on is consistency of location. If any setter can master that they are gold.

A middle spot has opened in the Bruins roster and Neely definitely brings the height and skills to grab it. The only thing she lacks is the experience. When playing club 14Us normally play against other 14Us. When you reach high school frosh have to play against others three years older than them. The experience of a senior can still outmatch a more skilled frosh.

Neely’s skills certainly stood out in our Prep Dig Frosh showcase. She earned a top performer award. While playing for Bay Area Volleyball Academy (BAVA) she showed the ability to hit the quick tempo sets. Her back row play also stood out for a middle something a coach may take into consideration when choosing who to serve among their two middles.

As the season wears on and she gains more experience it would not surprise me to see her as one of the two main middles in the lineup. She will have to compete with the 6’1″ Molly Robinson, but that opens up a right side opportunity.

Neely stood out early in this showcase during 3v3 action. It’s not often you see a middle with a good serve receive, and nice passing skills, once she showed that it was hard not to keep tabs on her all day. Offensively, she showed good touch, and nice hitting skills with pretty good speed for a middle. Defensively she did a good job sliding to help cover the big hits from each side and getting her hands up above the net on every play. She had her hands full going up against the best pin hitter at the showcase for quite a bit of the day and showed well, even grabbing a couple solo blocks. Neely is going to be a welcome add for a Broadneck team that already has some of the best weapons in the state and will be looking to make a deep run this fall.