Nebraska Recruiting Spotlight for the Class of 2022: Setters
We now move to the second edition of the Nebraska Recruiting Spotlight as we count down the days to June 15th. With outside hitters covered, we now move on to setters! As lines of communication open up for the Class…
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Continue ReadingWe now move to the second edition of the Nebraska Recruiting Spotlight as we count down the days to June 15th. With outside hitters covered, we now move on to setters!
As lines of communication open up for the Class of 2022 on June 15th, dozens of coaches will be searching for the right setter to lead their volleyball program into the future. The science behind recruiting setters has always fascinated me. It’s like trying to draft a franchise quarterback. Setters not only need to be skilled enough to locate and distribute the ball consistently, but they’re also expected to carry a vocal leadership role and push their team through pressure situations.
Luckily, the Class of 2022 in the Cornhusker State has plenty of setters with these highly sought-after qualities. This list features players who have the character and ability to operate high-powered offenses at the next level.
Ava LeGrand Ava LeGrand 5'11" | S Papillion-LaVista South | 2022 State #46 Nation NE – 5’11 S/OH – Papillion-LaVista South – Nebraska Juniors 17-1 | Title Photo Contributed
No list of Nebraska setters is complete without LeGrand, who made appearances in the Sarpy County outside hitters feature and my Omaha setters spotlight. That’s just how well-rounded she is. As a setter, LeGrand is super smooth, and her extraordinary control over tempo is very rare for someone her age. LeGrand is another Nebraska athlete with strong volleyball bloodlines, and she will surely carry the family tradition of success at the college level.
Boesiger
Maisie Boesiger Maisie Boesiger 5'5" | S Norris | 2022 State #198 Nation NE – 5’5 S – Norris – Premier 16 Gold
I’ve made mention of the kind of impact player Boesiger can be in my Class A feature from the Unfinished Business series, where Norris was tabbed as a team to watch in 2020. Boesiger will continue to run a high-powered Titans offense, just as she does for her Premier squad. Her back sets are so precise and fluid, and she’s not afraid to slide on her knees to overhand set an errant ball. Boesiger is a natural right-back defender, and she has all the tools to make an impact throughout her playing career.
Makayla Fleming Makayla Fleming 5'8" | S Millard South | 2022 State NE – 5’8 S – Millard South – Premier 16 Black
Fleming was another athlete to be featured in my Omaha setters piece. She’s a steady force that always has her offenses running at full strength. Her location is particularly strong, and Fleming also has no problem creating a hittable ball in out-of-system plays. Aggression is another one of her best attributes, as she knows how to open up her offense by embracing an attacking role of her own. Fleming will make herself known while battling in one of the most competitive classes in the state.
Madi Woodin Madi Woodin 5'6" | S Elkhorn South | 2022 State NE – 5’6 S – Elkhorn South – Premier 16 Gold
Great setters must congregate in the Omaha area, because Woodin was another elite player to make my Omaha setters list. She led the state in assists last year for a reason. Woodin knows how to dish it. Mixing tempos is something that she does so well, and this frequently puts her hitters in one-on-one situations. It’s no secret that Woodin directs two incredibly efficient offenses with Elkhorn South and Premier. Expect this trend to hold well into the future.
Schomers
Abby Schomers Abby Schomers 6'0" | S Skutt Catholic | 2022 State #94 Nation NE – 5’11 S – Omaha Skutt Catholic – Nebraska Elite 16-1
Schomers is a long, rangy setter who can baffle opposing defenses. She frequently posts big kill numbers at the setting position for her Elite squad, using a high reach and deception to score on the second contact. Even as a taller setter, she moves well and can set against the flow with ease. Schomers has the all-around skill to raise her stock tremendously for the remainder of her prep career.
Jayna Hope Jayna Hope 5'6" | S Bellevue West | 2022 State NE – 5’6 S – Bellevue West – Nebraska Juniors 16-1
Hope plays the setting position with touch and finesse. She knows how to put her hitters in good spots, and her Nebraska Juniors team is a formidable squad because of it. A leader who knows how to spread the ball around, Hope uses balanced distribution to keep opposing blockers guessing. She meshes well with any teams she’s on, and that bodes well for her volleyball future.
Olivia Poppert Olivia Poppert 6'0" | S St. Paul | 2022 State NE – 5’10 S – St. Paul – South Central 16 Black
Poppert hates to lose, and her St. Paul squad did very little of that last year. Her Wildcats team, which appeared in my Class C1 tournament feature, scored 35 consecutive victories before suffering their first loss of the season in the championship match. Poppert is an imposing setter who is always an attacking threat. Her hands are spectacular, and she always keeps defenses off balance. This fierce competitor is a small-town athlete with the talent to perform on the big stage.