Today, we came across a great article from the Sun Sentinel that we had to share with all our readers. Far to often, the middle blockers and outside hitters get recognized but who sets them up with perfect passes to slam down. Obviously it's the setter. Mrs. Chirinos did a great job with this article.
No headlines or flashy statistics. Instead, there's the grueling task of trying to figure out how to best distribute the ball and keep everybody — including the coach —happy.
No wonder volleyball player Nikki Naccarato of Wellington (Pictured) shied away from the idea of moving from hitter to setter.
"It was tough, and I rebelled so much," said the Wellington junior who led Palm Beach County with an average of 32.4 assists per match during the regular season. "I enjoy hitting, and setters don't really get the glory. Now, I would never trade it for the world."
Most likely, Naccarato realized what dozens of top-notch South Florida volleyball coaches preach yearly.
It may be the big hitters who notch the points, but without their unheralded setters, it would be incredibly difficult to succeed.
"They do a lot of the work," Wellington coach Steve Swan said. "Setters are the coaches on the floor. They're the ones calling the plays and making quick decisions. It's a tough spot."
As regional volleyball tournaments begin this week across [South Florida], several of South Florida's top high school setters will be working to move their teams one step closer to the state championships.
South Florida's Top Setters currently leading their teams in the Regionals are:
Boca Raton's Julia Schade
Jupiter's Brittany Lear
St. Thomas Aquinas' Lauren Spear
Calvary Christian's Jessie Wilkie
Lake Worth Christian's Danielle Lampman
Ferguson's Kristin Walewski
Krops Jesyca Schiffman
Palmer Trinity's Sarah Alfonso
Westminster's Rebecca Acevedo
Mater's Natasha Naveda
Those are just a few of the players coaches and hitters will be looking to when it comes time to take a pass and turn it into the perfect opportunity to notch crucial points.
"It's a complete mental game," Cardinal Gibbons coach Kathryn Farland said. "In their minds, they have to take the pass and figure out where they can set it. It has to go through their mind so quickly, and they have to play smart. That's what you look for in a setter."
Aside from the physical skills and the mental prowess, good setters often share another characteristic: the ability to move on quickly.
To Read the complete article please buy a copy of the Sun Sentinel, Never has such a small amount of money bought so much.
Christy Cabrera Chirinos can be reached at ccabrera@SunSentinel.com
Copyright © 2009, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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