I mentioned all of those setters to finish this article with the kid that has already beat them all. Charlee earned a bronze medal in 15 Open at GJNCs last spring, and have already qualified multiple times for another open run at this year’s GJNC in 16 Open. It’s easy to forget who the captain of the ship is at Circle’s most accomplished team, and even though the attackers get all of the praise, it’s Charlee doing the directing, no matter the situation or the pass. Miss Groninger will be a pleasant surprise for any school looking for that unassuming, coachable kid that can run a high-octane offense with an off-the-chart volleyball IQ.

Charlee could not have impressed me more today. She showed maturity, grit, and leadership throughout the day. I loved how she pushed the tempo for her hitters even when she was off the net. She was so tough to read that her hitters often had open blocks at the net. Charlee was disciplined on defense, yet released to the net as quickly as possible. She balanced playing each moment of each point while always thinking a few steps ahead. This is a setter to watch and one whose intangibles really set her apart.

Audrey’s high school setter is also her club setter, and that innate ability to read the minds of her fellow teammates sets her apart from most of the other setters in this class. Unassuming, quiet and smart, Charlee is fully capable of running the show as THE setter in a D1 offense. She defends her position well, makes solid choices in the offense, and always manages to set a hittable ball in any situation.

Of the five setters here, Charlee is probably the most decorated in the club ranks. She guided her 15-1 squad last year to a bronze medal at GJNCs, have already earned their open bid to nationals at Boston a couple of weeks ago, and have yet to drop a match this season. With quick hands, even quicker feet and an ability to calmly defend her position in any situation, Charlee is a naturally talented setter, with athleticism and smarts for days. No, she’s not the tallest in this class. But she does her job at an elite level, with an elite squad playing one of the toughest schedules in the country.

The engine that makes this offense go, Charlee’s also part of Plainfield’s meteoric rise this past fall. Her combination of location, tempo and situational setting makes for an exceptional combination of next-level setting. She also defends her position well—-she’ll not only defend first, but make that first ball settable for the defender taking the second contact. A bronze medal from last spring in 15 Open and a 4A state runner up trophy this past fall, Miss Groninger has already tasted success on the biggest stages volleyball has to offer, and is relentlessly looking for more.

Already earning a bronze medal at GJNC’s last summer with the squad in her profile picture, she raised the stakes even higher by setting her Plainfield squad to their first-ever 4A title match. Open-level through and through, do not be put off by her size, as her smarts and athleticism more than make up for it. Accuracy, tempo and deception are what Charlee’s known for, and she still has a full two years of high school and THREE years of club to perfect her craft. Unassuming and avoiding the spotlight, Miss Groninger is a workhorse of a setter that does everything well, and has the trophies and medals to prove it.

Yes, the two transfers Plainfield received over the summer have made a major difference in how the Quakers have played this season. But what about the glue that keeps all of the talent together? With 1100+ assists this season, Charlee is one of the best setters in her class, and has put Plainfield on the doorstep of making history for her squad.

Charlee is a “coach’s setter”, if there was such a thing. She leads by example, chooses the right hitter in the right situation consistently, and is highly coachable so that she can make adjustments mid-match. She’s also tough from behind the baseline, and can keep pressure on defenses and serve receive systems with every ball she plays. As the setter for Circle’s bronze-winning 15-1 in Dallas in 15 Open this past summer, she’ll continue on that high-end path this fall with a solid Plainfield program as well as next spring with Circle again.

Groninger is absolutely one of the top setting prospects in the state of Indiana overall, and I believe the top prospect in the class of 2028. She earned first team All-American at USAV GJNC in 15 Open (an EXTREMELY talented age group) and from other publications. Charlee is as accurate as they come at this age, an extremely hard worker and competitor, and can handle the pressure of the biggest moments. She proved this in the National semifinals in a hard-fought match against #1 seed TAV that went down to the wire and ended at 32-30. No matter how tight the game became, she spread the ball around well and accurately. I look for Groninger to guide Plainfield all season and be highly sought after when recruiting opens up for 2028s in June 2026.

With a bid to nationals in hand, Charlee is a technically sound setter that may look undersized, but isn’t. Her ability to locate sets accurately makes the 15-1 at Circle be one of the best in the state, and she can turn a bad pass into a hittable ball regularly. I also like her ability to get to balls using proper footwork instead of what I call “miracle sets” and showmanship. She does her job, and she does it well, all while being unassuming. Add in a sprinkling of timely offense and a healthy heaping of a tough serve, and she’s the complete package at the setting position.