For Riley Jenski, leadership begins with helping everyone else succeed. She takes tremendous pride in being the teammate others can turn to for encouragement, guidance, or simply a reassuring smile when emotions begin to rise. As a setter, she understands that her influence extends well beyond distributing the ball. Her responsibility is to manage the court, communicate with her hitters, and create confidence one conversation at a time.

That perspective has transformed the way Jenski approaches the position. Rather than becoming consumed with critiquing her own performance, she has embraced coaching that challenged her to focus on elevating the athletes around her. Whether she’s adjusting a hitter’s route, identifying an open area of the court, or using an aggressive serve to shift momentum, her decisions are rooted in creating better opportunities for her team. Jenski is developing into the type of setter whose greatest strength isn’t simply running an offense, but bringing out the best in the players around her.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247