Breaking Down the D1 Setters at State
Setters arguably have one of the toughest jobs on the court. They are always thinking and constantly need to be both mentally and physically in the game. Though there are many incredible setters throughout the state, this year’s state tournament…
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Continue ReadingSetters arguably have one of the toughest jobs on the court. They are always thinking and constantly need to be both mentally and physically in the game. Though there are many incredible setters throughout the state, this year’s state tournament is highlighting some of the best.
Tayler Alden (Class of 2020, Prep Dig Rank #2, Committed to Northern Iowa) out of Oconomowoc is a force to be reckoned with. She is fast, smart, and looks like she was born on a volleyball court. Her leadership on the court is natural and she seems to be in tune with every hitter on the court.
Kaley Blake (Class of 2020, Prep Dig Rank #5, Committed to UW-Milwaukee) has been a setter for Burlington since her freshman year and led the Demons to two straight State Championships (2017 & 2018) and a finish as runner up at state her freshman year (2016). She is an incredibly talented player and teammate who will be looking to lead her team to another championship.
Junior setter from Arrowhead, Jade Stefan (Prep Dig Rank #39) is a gritty player who knows how to get the job done. She averages almost 11 assists per set and is great on defense as well. Jade seems to be very in tune with her hitters and runs a very fast offense for the Warhawks.
Another class of 2021 athlete who is a leader on her team going into the state tournament is Brooke Bolwerk (Appleton North, Prep Dig Rank #15, Committed to Minnesota State – Mankato). Appleton North has a great mix of experienced and newer athletes on the court and Brooke makes their offense look seamless. She has a lot of hustle and it shows when she is on the court.
River Falls has two great setters on its roster. Maddi Kealy (Prep Dig Rank #28, Committed to University of Minnesota – Duluth) is a senior who is no stranger to competitive volleyball. She is a captain for River Falls this year, a testament to bother her playing abilities and her leadership skills. Her younger sister, Morgan Kealy is following in her footsteps and has almost 600 assists going into the state tournament in her freshman season. This duo is has helped River Falls have a very successful season.
It is hard to talk about the top setters in the state without mentioning junior setter from Sun Prairie, Josie Halbleib (Prep Dig Rank #14). She is an all-around athlete and has clocked in over 1,000 assists just this season as well as 66 aces, 154 digs, and 139 kills. She is a powerhouse on the court and works well with all of her teammates.
Union Grove’s Karlee Lois (Prep Dig Rank #26, Committed to Wheeling Jesuit) has been a key player for the Broncos this year. She has been a varsity athlete all four years and makes a huge impact when she is on the court. In fact, it is nearly impossible to take her off the court. Her confidence and leadership is an asset to this team, not to mention her incredible athletic ability.
Kettle Moraine has a great mix of ages on their varsity team. The varying experience levels can make it tough on a setter to adjust, but Claudia Buchholz makes the team look like they have been playing together for years. She is fun to watch on the court and makes smart decisions.
Watching these setters take the court this weekend will be a lot of fun. Setting is as much of a mental position as it is a physical one. These athletes will be put to the test against the top teams in the state and in high-pressure situations.