They're the quarterbacks of the volleyball court. They run the offense. Every play goes through them. They usually don't get the glory of the kill, but they do get the satisfaction of knowing that without them, the outside hitters and middle blockers couldn't get the ball down on the other side of the net. They're setters. And Utah County's volleyball teams couldn't win without them.
"How important is the quarterback to a football team?" asked Lone Peak volleyball coach Deanna Meyer. "Setters touch the ball on every play."
Meyer is lucky to have one of the state's top setters on her side in Ashley Hamilton, who has been leading the Knights for three years and has garnered top honors in setting her team to the 4A state title two years running.
Not every team in the valley is lucky enough to have a veteran setter who understands the game and seems to know just what to do every time the ball crosses the net. But every team does depend on their setter or setters just as every basketball team depends on its point guard.
Just as a point guard must know when to take matters into her own hands and throw up a quick shot instead of tossing the pass to a teammate, a setter must decide in a split second exactly where to put the ball for the most effective hit.
Whether she dumps the ball over the net on the second shot, puts up a high set for a solid outside or a quick short set for the middle or even a perfect pass meant for a tough arm in the back row, the setter must communicate with her teammates without allowing the other team to read her mind or actions. And if her decision doesn't lead to a solid hit, she must prepare herself to take part of the blame and steal herself for the next point. Because she rarely gets a rest.
Though most of the accolades go to the ladies of the kill, the setter is probably the most technical position on the court and one of the toughest to learn and master, but the valley's setters are either learning or mastering their skills this fall and leading their teams to real victories or moral victories. Here's a look at some of the county's top quarterbacks of the court.
Region 4
ALLYCE WILSON/JANAE MORTENSEN, PLEASANT GROVE: The Pleasant Grove Vikings are one of the favorites in the state to take the 5A crown this season, and much of the reason is the reliable game and decision making by its two setters. Though Wilson and Mortensen do split time at setter, Wilson gets most of the action this season at the spot as the team has gone from a 6-2 team to mostly a 5-1 team this season, which leaves 5-foot-2-inch Wilson in through the entire rotation, even in the front row.
Though Wilson admits to being "vertically challenged," she has also worked on her jumping ability and has been known to rise above the net for a block on occasion.
"There's no harm to having her rotate into the front row. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks" of having Wilson roam at the net, said Pleasant Grove coach Mike Daniel. The senior was named most valuable player at a tournament in Las Vegas and has received a scholarship offer to Snow College.
Her teammate Mortensen, who also plays defensive specialist, has another specialty that makes her invaluable to her team. The Vikings depend on her strong serving ability.
ASHLEY HAMILTON, LONE PEAK: According to her coach, Hamilton is not only an all-state setter but is also one of the valley's top all-around players. The hardworking motivator has already accepted a volleyball scholarship to the University of Arizona, which is in one of the country's toughest volleyball conferences.
"She's the core of our team," said Meyer. She touches the ball on every play. She's been making smart choices and is doing really well."
Though Hamilton runs the team and puts the ball in the perfect place for her teammates to hit it, she provides yet another option most setters lack, she can put up a nearly perfect block. She's been a team leader for all of the Lone Peak success and is hoping to bring back the three peat of another state championship.
MARIANNE WHITE/RACHEL GLASSFORD, MOUNTAIN VIEW: The Bruins are putting together a great season based around some good arms, teamwork and the setting abilities of their two-headed setting duo.
The senior White has a little more experience than her sophomore counterpart, but Glassford has learned on the job. Both girls can put up a great ball, and their hitters are benefiting from some good ball placement and decision-making.
JHORDAN TE'O, TIMPANOGOS: This team has come together after a couple of difficult years, and part of the credit can go to new setter Te'o, who transferred from American Fork.
"She's a team leader. This is her first year setting, and she's doing really well," said Timpanogos coach Lala Mulitala. "She's a smart player with a lot of ability."
And her teammates trust her to put the ball where they can hit it at a perfect time. Her setting and the team's newfound trust in each other are leading to much improved results over the past two years.
JENNA TOONE, AMERICAN FORK: The Cavemen have a setter who can not only put the ball in a good place for her teammates, but she can also pound it down herself. Toone has a unique ability to change positions and go from setter on one point to opposite hitter on the next. She's a double danger to the team on the other side of the net.
"We have a sweet setter," said American Fork coach Chad Murray, who realizes his team's subpar passing makes her job even more difficult.
Mulitala agreed, saying, "They have a great setter and some big hitters, and if their passing would improve, they'd have everything."
JENNA JOHNSON, SPANISH FORK: This sophomore setter has exactly what every young quarterback needs: all the confidence in the world from her coach.
"We have a great setter. She gets to everything and always puts up a playable ball," said Spanish Fork coach Amber Newell. "She's a quiet leader. She's absolutely fantastic."
Newell also added that her setter is one of the most athletic players on the team, and she's happy to be able to count on her for the next two years.
Region 7
NAOMI PAIGE FLINDERS, PROVO: Yet another sophomore is stepping to the mat for one of the top teams in the state. Even though the Bulldogs lost their star setter, Cassie King, from last year's fourth-place finishers at state, the team hasn't lost a beat because Flinders is doing such a good job in her first year as the team's point guard.
"She's doing very well. She's made some sophomore mistakes, but overall she's doing a great job, stepping up," said Provo coach Wendy Bills.
Flinders is also proving her mettle from the back row in the serving position as she's one of the team's most solid servers. This young team is not only the team to beat in Region 7, but they've also got a jump on a state title this season.
KYLA BURKE, LEHI: "She's the best setter in the region," said Lehi coach Jamie Ingersoll of her junior setter. "She gets to balls and always puts the ball in a good spot. She can also be an offensive threat when she's around the net."
Burke is the center of a team that should receive "most improved" honors from last season to this season. They're still young, with only one senior, and yet they have a great opportunity to jump right into state competition for the first time since 1997.
"Our hitters have to thank Kyla because she gets to a lot of tough balls and puts them in the right spots."
ALECIA NILSSON, OREM: Nilsson moved up from junior varsity last year to play the cornerstone spot for the varsity squad this year. She has to set a balanced game because she must keep four hitters happy. The Orem hitting game is a complicated chessboard.
But the Tigers have a similar problem to American Fork. No matter how solid your hitting and setting, the passing must be reliable in a long season, and Nilsson has been dealing with plenty of difficult passes this year.
ERICA MACKAY, SPRINGVILLE: This senior starter just moved into the Red Devil's boundaries and provided a big lift to the team.
"Now that we have Erica on our team we can run a lot more options," said Springville coach Melia Roberts, because the setter has much more experience than the team's setter did last season, and she has plenty of talent to go around.
The team has improved a great deal off last year's squad, but it's still in a tight battle with Orem and Lehi for the second through fourth spots in the league.
BROOKE HIATT, PAYSON: The Lions are depending on a setter with no experience coming into this year. Hiatt had never played volleyball before, but she'd been an athlete her entire life.
"She has a lot to learn," said Payson coach Jodie Beck. "But she's really athletic, and she's going to be good. She could be a hitter, too. She's a great leader and she has a great attitude."
The new setter is a freshman with potential, but she has a long way to go as far as experience is concerned. Her team should be able to count on her in coming years.
E-mail: jolsen@desnews.com