High school girls volleyball: Best setters in the nation

These 20 distributors are among the best in the country this season

The high school girls volleyball season is finally in full swing all across the United States.

SBLive Sports will be taking a position-by-position look this week at some of the best high school volleyball players in the nation.

The first installment featured the top outside and opposite hitters from all corners of the country. Now it’s time for the players who distribute the ball to the attackers.

Here are 20 of the best setters in high school volleyball.

Cooper Abney, sr., Pope (Georgia)

Pope captured the Class 6A state title — the program’s fifth championship — a season ago, and Abney was a big reason why. Abney had 1,132 assists during the Greyhounds’ magical run. 

Alex Bower, sr., Skyview (Idaho)

Bower had 578 assists last season as Skyview secured its fifth state title in seven years. Bower also added 94 digs and 66 kills. 

Abby Dillon, jr., Woodrow Wilson (West Virginia)

Dillon was a master distributor for Woodrow Wilson as a sophomore, dishing out 1,106 assists. She also competes in basketball, soccer and tennis. 

Chloe Elarton, jr., Valor Christian (Colorado)

As a sophomore, Elarton had 784 assists, 205 digs and 59 aces for a Valor Christian team that won the Class 5A state title. Elarton is committed to Georgia. 

Campbell Flynn, jr., Mercy (Michigan)

Flynn piled up 666 assists while also recording 344 kills during her sophomore season for Mercy. In June, Flynn committed to Nebraska. 

Charlie Fuerbringer, sr., Mira Costa (California)

The daughter of professional beach volleyball player Matt Fuerbringer and All-American setter Joy McKienzie Fuerbringer, Charlie Fuerbringer is a leader and the orchestrator of Mira Costa’s potent attack. She is committed to Wisconsin. 

Alexis Haury, sr., Silverton (Oregon)

A two-time Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year, Haury will play college volleyball in the Big Ten for Washington. Haury had 340 assists, 303 digs, 175 kills and 56 aces during her junior season for Silverton. 

Macie Malchow, sr., Washington (South Dakota)

Malchow is an expert at setting up her teammates for success. As a junior, Malchow dished out 1,019 assists (9.6 per set) while also recording 289 digs and 84 kills. 

Reese Messer, jr., St. James Academy (Kansas)

Messer had 840 assists during her freshman season for St. James Academy and finished with 824 more last fall. The USC commit also had 167 digs, 145 kills and 23 aces as a sophomore. 

Julia Owens, sr., Corona del Sol (Arizona)

A four-year varsity player, Owens entered her senior season with 2,241 career assists, including 1,282 last fall. She averaged north of 11 assists per set during her junior year. 

Blakeley Robbins, sr., Bayside Academy (Alabama)

Robbins helped Bayside Academy capture its 21st consecutive state title a season ago. She was named Class 6A state tournament MVP after recording 57 assists, 11 digs, four kills and four aces in the championship match. Robbins finished last year with 1,479 assists. 

Kathrin Rowe, sr., Edmond Memorial (Oklahoma)

Rowe did a little bit of everything to earn Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a junior. She had 337 assists as a setter while also putting up 424 kills, 350 digs and 41 aces. 

Sydney Shearer, sr., Mauldin (South Carolina)

Shearer was the main distributor for a Mauldin team that captured the Class 5A state title a season ago. As a junior, Shearer had 968 assists, 189 digs, 142 kills and 42 aces. 

Izzy Starck, sr., Viera (Florida)

The Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior for Rampart, Starck is competing for Class 6A Viera in Florida this season. The Penn State commit was everywhere last year, tallying 501 assists, 424 kills, 332 digs and 51 aces. 

Kalena Stavish, sr., Immaculate Heart Academy (New Jersey)

Stavish had 720 assists during her junior season, nearly half of which went to state player of the year Brooklyn Talmadge. Stavish helped Immaculate Heart Academy capture the Non-Public A title. 

Maddy Stucky, sr., Laramie (Wyoming)

Stucky, a three-time Class 4A all-state honoree, had 892 assists, 261 digs, 143 kills and 61 blocks as a junior. She is staying home for college and will compete for Wyoming. 

Stella Swenson, sr., Wayzata (Minnesota)

A three-time all-state selection, Swenson will play college volleyball for Minnesota. She led Wayzata to the Class 4A title last year while putting up 888 assists, 223 digs, 138 kills, 74 blocks and 49 aces. 

Lilly Wagner, sr., Oconomowoc (Wisconsin)

Wagner averaged more than 10 assists per set as a junior and finished the year with 1,075. The Maryland signee also notched 247 digs, 114 kills and 40 aces. 

Karyna Werley, jr., La Cueva (New Mexico)

Werley compiled 1,203 assists during her first two seasons for La Cueva, including 815 last fall. La Cueva finished 29-0 last year and won its second straight Class 5A title.

Bethanie Wu, sr., Lovejoy (Texas)

Wu had 1,130 assists, 299 digs, 56 aces and 49 kills as a junior for Class 5A power Lovejoy. Wu will play college volleyball in the Ivy League at Yale. 

(Kathrin Rowe photo by Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman/USA Today Network)

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports