Strong Impact Leaders From Midwest National Tune Up

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>This article was shared with 150+ college coaches.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Join PrepDig with 30% off using code:&nbsp;<em><strong>digdakotas30</strong></em></strong></a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Midwest National Tune Up brought together some of the strongest teams from around the Midwest, creating plenty of opportunities to watch high-level volleyball before the season's biggest events. While hitters often receive the attention for finishing points, it was several setters in the 16s division that continually caught my eye throughout the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These players were doing much more than collecting assists. They were making adjustments, managing difficult situations, and finding ways to keep their offenses moving when matches became physical and competitive. The best setters have a way of settling their teams down while still putting pressure on opponents, and that was on display throughout the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The following setters left a lasting impression during the Midwest National Tune Up. Their leadership, decision making, and ability to impact matches went far beyond the box score and helped their teams compete at a high level throughout the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["730485"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a22303f427dd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='730485' first='Salina' last='Schaper'] was one of the setters that continually caught my attention because of how calm she remained when plays didn't develop perfectly. Throughout the weekend, she handled off-target passes well and consistently found ways to keep her hitters available. Instead of forcing difficult decisions, she stayed composed and worked to keep the offense flowing. That ability to manage challenging situations helped her team stay in system and continue applying pressure throughout matches. <strong><em>~Theresa @prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sydney Yates","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Air VBC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a22303f42847"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sydney Yates brought an aggressive mindset to the setter position throughout the Midwest National Tune Up. She wasn't afraid to challenge defenses by moving the ball around and forcing blockers to work. What caught my attention was how comfortable she looked making decisions on the move. Even when rallies became chaotic, she found ways to deliver hittable balls and keep attackers engaged. Setters who can create offense out of less-than-perfect situations become valuable quickly, and Yates showed that ability throughout the event. <strong><em>~Theresa @prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Adalyn Clover","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Ohana","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a22303f42887"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One thing I kept noticing about Adalyn Clover was how quickly she processed what was happening on the court. She did a good job identifying favorable matchups and distributing the ball accordingly. As the weekend went on, she looked increasingly comfortable running the offense and keeping blockers from getting settled. Her ability to spread the ball around and trust multiple hitters made her difficult to defend and allowed her team to stay balanced offensively.<strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["521948"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a22303f428a9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Throughout the weekend, [player_tooltip player_id='521948' first='Tatum' last='Arndt'] consistently showed why setters are often the heartbeat of a team. She communicated well, stayed engaged in every rally, and brought a steady presence to the court. What stood out most was how effectively she spread the floor. She didn't allow defenses to lock in on one attacker and continually worked to create opportunities across the entire offense. That willingness to trust all of her hitters helped keep opponents guessing and made her team difficult to defend. <strong><em>~Theresa @prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["522694"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a22303f428c7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Autumn Drennan was one of the top-performing setters I watched throughout the Midwest National Tune Up. She controlled matches with her decision making, tempo, and ability to stay calm under pressure. What separated her was how consistently she created quality opportunities regardless of the pass. Whether she was running a faster tempo offense, creating opportunities in transition, or making adjustments late in rallies, she remained in control.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The best setters have a way of making the game look easier for everyone around them, and that's exactly what Drennan did throughout the weekend. She kept hitters comfortable, forced defenses to stay honest, and continually put her team in positions to score. When the level of competition increased, her play elevated with it, which is one of the biggest reasons she stood out as one of the strongest impact leaders in the 16s division. <strong><em>~Theresa @prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>In Case You Missed It</strong></h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":987083,"linkDestination":"custom"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://prepdig.com/dakotas/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_5b1fa1.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-987083" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->