The 5’5” setter from Tomball, TX, showcases her skills in every aspect of the game, earning a spot on our Texas 2028 Watch List. Defensively, she stands out with her quick reads and ability to position herself perfectly behind the ball for key digs. Offensively, she releases quickly to get her feet stopped and deliver clean, well-placed sets. With a sharp eye for opposing defenses she makes smart decisions, whether feeding her hitters or executing a well-timed dump. On the service line, her jump float is a weapon, delivering pinpoint spot serves that consistently result in multiple aces per match. Payton is a true all-around setter that’s dynamic, smart, and absolutely one to watch.

Tompkins was one of the TX Legacy 15 Elite team setters that finished first in the division with seven wins and just one set dropped. She played the backcourt rotations and made a major impact on the team’s offense. Tompkins ran an extremely fast-paced offense, sending bullet sets to the pins and consistently feeding her middles, making the lives of opposing blockers very hard. She also did a very good job of turning passes off the net into hittable sets, in a big part because of her ability to move around the court with great quickness. The setter also served very well and came up with nice digs at the right back position.