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Here are my top five returning setters for this season.

We lost a lot of extremely talented setters to graduation last year. High profile All-American setters like Kami Miner, Rachel Fairbanks, Kendra Wait and Emma Grome are gone. So, from my top-5 list from last year, only one name will be the same for 2025. That name is Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly. 

1. Bergen Reilly, Nebraska

Bergen at the net with one hand 🤯

— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB)

The 6-1 junior was the Big Ten Setter of the Year for two straight years. She set the Huskers to their highest season hitting percentage since 2016 with 11.08 assists per set and posted a team-high 17 double-doubles. She is great at the net and has an incredible IQ for the game. Needless to say, I'm excited to see what she does as a junior. 

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2. Izzy Starck, Penn State 

. kill from her knees!

— Penn State Women’s Volleyball (@PennStateVBALL)

We’ve got the reigning AVCA National Freshman of the Year and defending national champion, Izzy Starck, at the number two spot. I don’t think anyone is going to argue with me on this one — she is one of the best players in the country. Starck is extremely athletic, makes impossible plays look easy and tallied 1,483 assists in her rookie year. If she looked that good as a freshman, I am pumped to see what she does in year two with Kennedy Martin on the right side. Big things to look for from the Nittany Lions in 2025. 

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3. Nayelis Cabello

Also making the list this year is Louisville’s Nayelis Cabello. The 2024 ACC Freshman of the Year has already proven herself to be an exceptional talent. She ran a 6-2 last season and she still posted impressive numbers. We could maybe see her run a 5-1 this season, but she is incredibly dynamic and can do it all. I think she's going to continue to be one of the nation's best setters for years to come.

4. Caroline Kerr, Tennessee

At the number four spot I have Caroline Kerr at Tennessee. She is averaging 11.02 assists per set for her career so far. She has great court awareness, has great location and it has really shown how she has been able to lead a Tennessee team to new heights.

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5. Alexis Stucky, Florida

SOLO STUFF FROM THE SETTER 💥 x 🎥 ESPN2 /

— ��ݮ��վ���߿� Women's Volleyball (@��ݮ��վ���߿�Volleyball)

Lastly, I am going with Florida’s Alexis Stucky. When Stucky broke onto the scene her freshman season, she looked like one of the most beautiful technically sound setters we have seen, then unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury in her sophomore year. She came back a little ways into last year and played 17 of 31 matches. She wasn't even fully back and still looked great, came in for the third set of an ��ݮ��վ���߿� tournament game and recorded 40 assists, seven digs, two aces and one block in the win — just crazy. She may not have been fully back last year, but at full strength this year I think Stucky is one of the best in the country.

Those are my top five but I have to give some other setters to watch.

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Honorable mention

I'm excited to see Charlie Fuerbringer continue to grow at Wisconsin. Cristin Cline I think can really shine at Kansas. I have to mention Zayna Meyer at UCLA, Averi Carlson at SMU, Ella Swindle at Texas and more.