Vote: Who is the top setter in Minnesota high school volleyball?

Read through the nominees and vote

Let’s take a close look at some of the top returning setters in high school volleyball for the 2023 season in Minnesota.

Plenty of worthy names are on this list, so be sure to read through the nominees and vote in our poll.

Voting will close on September 24 at 11:59 p.m.

Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. This poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player who may not be mentioned in our poll.

If you are a coach and you'd like to add a nominee before the poll closes, please email butler@scorebooklive.com.

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Top setters in Minnesota high school volleyball

Katie Brandl, Forest Lake

Brandl was named to the 2022 Class 4A first team All-State, and she led the Rangers to the Class 4A, Section 7 title game against Centennial.

Brynlea Mahlen, Fosston

Mahlen is both a middle front as well as setter in the back row. 

“Brynlea is our team captain and a natural born leader,” coach Alyssa Macy said. 

Mahlen led the team in blocks each of the last two years and Macy expects her to once more in 2023. Last season, she also added 182 kills. This season she has also stepped into a role as a 6-2 setter. 

“She has beautiful hands and well placed balls to her hitters,” Macy said. “Brynlea also has a very aggressive float serve and can consistently spot serve anywhere on the court. Along with her athletic ability, she also has an unbelievable work ethic and is a great teammate.” 

Anya Schmidt, Rogers

Schmidt, a setter and right side hitter, was named to the Class 4A all-state team last season as a sophomore. She was one of two sophomores to make the team. She helped push Rogers to a 30-6 record last season and a fourth place finish in the state playoffs. She recorded 305 kills (second on team) with a .340 percentage and a team-leading 556 assists. 

Abby Distad, Kasson-Mantorville

Distad is the team leader for Larry Hegerle’s program. The captain was an all-conference player last season, starting in a 5-1 offense and leading her team to third place at the state tournament. In one year of starting, Distad already has 1,263 assists, 104 aces and 339 digs. 

“She is an excellent role model and truly cares about her fellow players,” Hegerle said. “She loves the game and players with all she is worth.”

Braya LaPlant, Grand Rapids

LaPlant was the setter for a program that finished 25-6 last year, before ultimately falling to Kasson-Mantorville in the Class AAA Third Place Game. She led the team with 131 assists, adding 40 digs. 

Audrey Kocon, Mounds View

Kocon, both a setter and right side hitter, made the Class 4A all-state team last year and returns as a senior to help turn around the program after a 10-18 year last season. Mounds View did however make the section semifinals in 2022. 

Kylie Weller, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa

Weller is a 5-foot-5 setter who was made the all-conference first team last season and the all-area second team. She earned a starting spot midway through the season last year, and according to coach Alanna Hunter, “continued to prove she deserved that position.” Hunter added that Weller “does a great job adjusting to each hitter's needs.” She was a key part of a Section 6A championship team last season. 

Carmen Nerison, Kenyon-Wanamingo

Nerison has 730 assists in her career and the chance to eclipse 1,000 awaits this season. The junior has turned into an excellent leader on the court, according to coach Tracy Erlandson. 

“As a setter, she does a nice job of running the show,” Erlandson said. “She has great court awareness and is a smart player.” Nerison can play front row too, and has a “very strong” hitting arm. 

Sahara Morken, Mabel-Canton

Morken is a three-year starter who was her conference’s Player of the Year and an all-state first teamer in 2022. She’s nearing 3,000 career assists after collecting 1,262 last season which was the second most in state history. Morken is 5-foot-4, but has a 27-inch vertical. 

She also posseses a high volleyball IQ and is a great defender and server, according to coach Lonnie Morken.  

Lyvia Misegades, Henning

Henning went 24-6 last season and was a state title runner-up at the Section 6A level. Misegades, an all-state honoree, was right at the center of it all as a setter and right side hitter. She returns for one more season to attempt a title win. 

Stella Swenson, Wayzata

Swenson returns for her senior year now equipped with the understanding of what it takes to be the setter for a Class 4A champion. She led the way with a remarkable 888 assists, averaging 9.2 per set. She was also second on the team in digs (223) and blocks (73). 

Addison Preuss, Elk River

Preuss led her team with 263 assists, adding 181 digs. A captain and three-year starter, Preuss was an all-conference honorable mention last season. 

“She would thrive on any team she played on,” coach Theresa Brummer said.

Maddie Anderson, Elk River

Anderon is also a team captain and three-year starter. Last season she was named as an all-conference player. “She is an exceptional athlete, student, and teammate,” Brummer said. In 2022, Anderson recorded 260 assists, 148 digs and 83 kills. 

Cammy Sand, Cathedral

Sand was an all-conference and all-section player last season after recording 470 assists, 121 digs and 48 aces. A four-year varsity player, Sand has become a “huge leader,” for coach Heidi Schloe’s program, helping lead Cathedral to the Section 6AA Final last season. 

“She runs the offense and is great at knowing when to go up and swing on the second ball or setter dump,” Schloe said of Sand. “She is an offensive threat from the front row, as well as a great back row defender. She digs well, and has a tremendous serve.”

Ava Jones, Detroit Lakes

Jones was a Class 3A all-state selection as a junior. She’s also a three-time captain and all-conference player who holds the school’s assist record. A starter since she was in eighth grade, Jones exceeded 1,000 career assists last season. 

“She is extremely knowledgeable,” coach Rachel Solum said,” works hard, and is a strong leader for our team. When our team needs guidance, they look to Ava. They trust and respect her tremendously.” 

Jones will be playing at University of Minnesota, Duluth next season. 

Addie Rossum, Alexandria

Rossum plays both setter and hitter for Mary Bryne’s program. This season, Bryne expects Rossum to play at a “high level” as a 5-1 or 6-2 setter. 

“She is an explosive left-handed attacker,” Bryne said, “and can be a difference maker in a match, especially at the service line.

Layla Pfarr, BOLD

Pfarr was her conference’s Setter of the Year in 2022, putting up over 800 assists last season and surpassing 1,000 for her career. 

“She is always trying to elevate her game,” coach Baylie Kubesh said. “She is small, but plays big. She will be a key player for the team's success as she runs our floor.”

Gabi Borresen, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton

Borresen was a Class 1A all-state player in 2022 as well as a first team all-conference honoree in each of the last two seasons. 

A starter since her sophomore season, she can play “about any position on the court but middle,” according to coach Daynica Brown. “Gabi truly embraces the setter position,” Brown said. “She is the quarterback of the team. Gabi knows how to read the other team and place the ball very well.”

Else Kunze-Hoeg, Mounds Park

During her three year career, Kunze-Hoeg has led Mounds Park to three conference championships and a pair of state tournament appearances. On her career, she has 3,484 assists and 380 aces (top five in Minnesota state history.) 

Last season, she was the first junior to receive her conference’s Player of the Year award and will be in the running for it again this season, coach Jeff Kunze-Hoeg said. 

“It is like having another coach out on the floor,” he said. 

Chase Manthey, Centennial

Manthey, in just her first season, will be leading the team from the setter position, coach Nicole Christensen said. Manthey is a 5-foot-11, lefty. 

“Opposing teams will need to respect her,” Christensen said. 

Amara Schroeder, St. Louis Park

Schroeder was an all-conference member as a sophomore and also her team’s MVP. A starter since freshman year, she has “only gotten better and made our team better for two seasons now,” coach Sam Hanlon said. She helped run a 5-1 offense last season, leading the team in assists and blocks while finishing second in digs. 

“Amara is the glue for our team,” Hanlon said. 

Kallyn Grove, Underwood

Grove has been on varsity since she was in eighth grade and last season, as a sophomore, surpassed 1,000 career assists. 

“Her strongest quality is her leadership,” coach Breck Grove said. “She leads vocally and by example.” 

Jaylin Lillquist, Sebeka

Lillquist started as a freshman, but missed all of last season due to an ACL injury. She is a “smart setter” who runs Sebeka’s 5-1 offense and also blocks the middle across the front. Back to full health, “she will be the key to our success,” coach Becca Pulju said. 

Jenna Minke, North Branch

Minke was an all-conference player last year, tallying 668 assists and 13 kills. She was remarkably productive for her age in 2022, and now coach Mike Selbitschka is working to help her become an offensive weapon, which he says she’s learning to do. 

Taylor Shelstad, Red Wing

An honorable mention all-conference player a year ago, Shelstad recorded 349 assists, 81 digs, 16 blocks and 10 aces. A 5-foot-1 setter, she’s not only the team’s only player at her position, but also serves as a team leader. 

Ellery DeBoer, Willmar

DeBoer was the 2022 Willmar rookie of the year as an eight grade setter. She had 737 assists, 132 digs, 65 kills and 18 aces. 

"She consistently sets a great ball to her hitters and does a great job distributing to all of them," coach Leah Brogdon said. "Ellery loves volleyball and is always looking for ways to get better!"

Maddy Dombeck, Farmington

Dombeck was an all-conference selection in 2021 and 2022, and she finished her junior season with 1,548 career assists. She is committed to playing at North Dakota State.

"It was very quickly apparent that her leadership, consistency and court awareness mandated she not come off the court," coach Michael Woody said. "She has been running our 5-1 offense ever since."

Shalyn Adams, Monticello

Adams has been named to the Mississippi 8 all-conference team, and she hit the 1,000 career assist mark toward the end of last season. 

"Shalyn is a dynamic player and one of the hardest workers I've ever coached,
 Bethany Modaff said. "She is a six rotation player who runs a fast-paced offense and is a smart attacker."