Another Valparaiso High School product on this list, Nicole is part of a family of athletes, specifically volleyball and swimming. Her smooth, calm demeanor while helming the offense of her 16 Elite squad at Ignite Elite proves her ability to handle the pressure of high level play. I like her deceptive hands, her easy-looking athleticism and quickness, and her ability to find the right hitter in the right situation at the right time. She’s a top ten recruit that will be a steal for anyone looking for the setter that just gets the job done, with no questions asked.

From a family of volleyballers, Nicole is the single-most well-rounded setter recruit in the state. Able to play multiple positions at the highest of levels, her volleyball IQ is off the chart and her athleticism rises to meet it regularly. With high hands and footwork other setters covet, Nicole’s ability to make every pass hittable is her main trait. Those hands are also very deceptive, and can make life miserable for blockers trying to read-block against her.

Yet another family of volleyballers can be found in Valparaiso, with Nicole the latest to show what she’s got. Able to do everything on a volleyball court due to her coach-parents, Nicole is a relentless work-ethic centered setter who does everything a court captain needs to do without flash or flare, and does it well. Set placement, athleticism, speed and accuracy in tempo are all part of Nicole’s skill set, and she makes each of them look easy.

From the opening series, Nicole’s work ethic and training was obvious in drills. Her footwork was solid, hands high and ready to deliver, and always had the right teammate in the right situation to hit. She comes from a family of volleyball coaches and players, so it makes sense that her volleyball IQ is through the roof, but to see that steady, reliable leadership through the second contact was fun to watch.

I’m cheating a bit here, but Nicole IS a setter, ready for the next level. She’s the daughter of a coach, has the physical traits to handle a long fall season, and looks the part of a highly athletic volleyball player who can do all parts of this game we all love. A prediction—-of the athletes in attendance at the Exposure Tour, NONE will be more well-rounded than Nicole.

Nicole, the daughter of a coach, is in the process of perfecting every skill on the volleyball court. Although her primary skill is setting, I have personally seen her take on other positional areas in our Showcase just to fill holes we were missing in a drill. Hard-working with a motor that never quits, Nicole’s ability to run an offense in the back row and transition like a full-time attacker in the front row proves my point. She does a little of everything, and in a good way, is the gym rat every program needs to be successful.

Yes, yes, she’s probably a setter, and not so much of a “thumper”, but hear me out. Probably one of the more complete kids in this class, Nicole is a coach’s daughter through and through, and can do pretty much anything she wants in any position at any time. Want someone to run an offense? Call Nicole. Need someone to step in for serve receive? Say no more. How about a solid attacker from both pins? Miss Bontrager has the athleticism to do it all, and will do it at a very high level. The sky is truly the limit for this young lady, and it’s only a matter of time before high-level schools figure it out.

A northern Indiana kid from a family who “gets it”, Nicole can do a little of everything on the volleyball court. Well-rounded and athletic, Nicole plays with a maturity usually seen in well-seasoned setters, not freshmen. Her setting is more than serviceable, and she locates the ball well for her hitters. On the attack, her aggression and athleticism makes her tough to stop. She even has the volleyball IQ to make decisions based on what the defense gives her, which is an upper-level trait that only comes with time and a certain type of DNA. Unlike the others on today’s list, Nicole is great at every part of this game, and will be on our radar for years to come at this rate.

Solid as an attacker and consistent as a setter, Nicole can be recruited for either endeavor at the next level. I’ve seen the work she’s done in our showcases, and it was hard to pin her down to one position because her all-around skill set is so complete. When setting, her hands are high and she gives a very hittable ball to her hitters. When attacking, it’s with pace and purpose, and hard to defend. When defending, the ball is “bettered”, meaning the contact after hers is easier because of how Nicole defended. I’m hoping for a little more front row play this weekend (at least more than she had in high school), as that might help me more accurately assess her potential.

From a family of volleyball folks, Nicole is a hybrid setter that is more than capable of running a modified 6-2—–she can set for three rotations in the back row while hammering away at teams when she’s in the front row. Her family background in a volleyball gym allows Nicole to “get it” quicker than most, and her smooth athleticism more than proves it. Playing for Ignite Elite, she’ll have more than enough ball touches and a high-level playing schedule that should really allow her talents to show through. And she’s a freshman? She certainly doesn’t play like one.