Varnika Kuchibhotla Varnika Kuchibhotla 6'0" | S CA named LovbLA Queen Setter of the PrepDig SoCal UpNext Showcase

Varnika Kuchibhotla Varnika Kuchibhotla 6'0" | S CA runs an offense the way a coach wants to see from a setter this young. Her hands are clean, and she delivers the ball to whichever hitter has the best chance to score rather than defaulting to a favorite. Her serve was consistent with sharp placement, and her communication kept her offense organized possession after possession.

That kind of decision making, delivering to the hitter with the highest scoring potential instead of the most comfortable one, is exactly what college coaches want to see develop early. Varnika is most excited to watch the level of competition a professional team brings to Los Angeles, alongside some of the best college talent in the country. Her message to LovbLA is to…

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Varnika Kuchibhotla earned Top Performer at the SoCal UpNext Showcase, August 29, 2026.

Varnika Kuchibhotla sets with clean hands and runs her offense with poise, delivering the ball to whichever hitter gives her team the best chance to score. Her serve stays consistent with great placement, and she communicates well with her hitters, which keeps her offense organized possession after possession.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Standing 6’0″ in the class of 2031 at the setter position is a profile that does not need much explanation to generate attention, but what Miss Kuchibhotla did at the Prep Dig Up Next SoCal Showcase gave evaluators something far more interesting than a frame to discuss. The release point she generates from that height creates a deception problem for blockers that technique alone cannot solve and she is already using it with an intentionality that suggests she understands exactly what the advantage is. Her sets had consistent location and her mechanics held up well without the breakdown that taller setters sometimes experience when the game speeds up around them. She led with confidence and communicated in a way that made the players around her feel like the system was in good hands from the very first point. Every college coach in the country will be wanting to know her name in a few years. Until then, we will be watching very closely.