10 Must Know Setters From The Southwest

Nafanua Alofipo | 2027 | Club V Volleyball | Skyline High School

Nafanua Alofipo has built an impressive résumé as a 2027 setter, combining high-level club experience, state championships and continued involvement in the USA Volleyball pipeline. The 5'11" setter from Club V Volleyball and Skyline High School is committed to Utah and enters the final stretch of her high school career with plenty of experience at the national level. Alofipo earned First Team All-Region and Desert News First Team All-State honors in 2023 before continuing that success with 5A First Team All-State recognition in both 2023 and 2024. She also helped Skyline capture the 5A State Championship in 2024 and followed that with another state title in 2025 at the 6A level. On the club side, Alofipo was named an AAU Nationals 18 Premier All-American in 2024 and has continued competing against some of the country's top teams. In 2025, she helped her team to a Top 5 finish at USAV 18U Open Nationals while also participating in both the NTDP Summer and Winter Series. She previously took part in the NTDP Summer Training Series in 2024 as well. Alofipo currently has a 118-inch approach touch, adding a strong physical component to a résumé that already includes multiple All-State selections, state championships and NTDP experience. With her commitment to Utah already in place, she'll be one of the Southwest's setters to keep an eye on as she finishes her high school career and prepares for the next level.

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Fara Bronson | 2027 | AZ Storm Elite | Casteel High School

Fara Bronson is a 5'11" setter from AZ Storm Elite and Casteel High School who has already put together an impressive résumé heading into her final year of high school volleyball. Bronson, who is committed to Alabama, has surpassed 1,000 career assists at Casteel while building a résumé that includes high-level club recognition, national tournament honors and success in both indoor and beach volleyball. Bronson was named a 2024 Club All-American, earning 15U Second Team honors, and was also selected to the USAV National Championships 15U All-Tournament Team. During her freshman year, she earned First Team All-Region honors in beach volleyball and Second Team All-Region honors in indoor volleyball. Her success has continued as she has moved through the club ranks. At the 2025 Triple Crown NIT, Bronson was selected to the 16U Elite All-Tournament Team, adding another notable tournament honor to her résumé. With more than 1,000 high school assists already to her name, Bronson has demonstrated consistent production at the setter position while gaining experience against high-level competition. Her combination of high school success, national club recognition and versatility across indoor and beach volleyball has helped make her one of the setters to know in the 2027 Southwest class as she prepares to continue her career at Alabama.

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Emma Elbert | 2027 | AZ REV | Pinnacle High School

At 6'1", Emma Elbert is a 2027 setter from AZ REV and Pinnacle High School who brings a physical, aggressive presence to the position. Committed to Brown, Elbert has already established herself as a key piece of her high school offense while continuing to build an impressive résumé. Elbert plays with grit and determination, two qualities that stand out in her game as a setter. She runs a strong offense while also being willing to become an offensive threat herself, mixing in attacks when the opportunity presents itself and keeping opposing defenses from settling in. Her physicality allows her to impact the game in multiple ways while still maintaining control of the offense. During her most recent high school season, Elbert surpassed 1,300 career assists while earning 2025 All-Region First Team and All-District Team honors. That combination of production and recognition has helped establish her as one of the setters to know in the Southwest's 2027 class. With her ability to run an offense, contribute as an attacker and compete with a physical edge, Elbert brings the kind of versatility that will translate to the next level at Brown.

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Vanessa Gridley | 2028 | AZ Sky | Notre Dame Preparatory

At 6'1", Vanessa Gridley is a 2028 setter/opposite from AZ Sky and Notre Dame Preparatory who brings plenty of physicality and versatility to the position. Gridley has already attended a number of select college camps, including Cal, UCSB, Georgetown and others, giving her valuable experience in different collegiate environments as she continues developing as a prospect. Gridley is a tall, strong setter who takes the ball high and delivers with a consistent release. She sets a clean tempo to the pins with reliable location, allowing her hitters to stay in rhythm and giving her offense consistency. Her size also gives her the ability to become an offensive weapon herself, particularly when she rotates to the front row, where she shows a strong arm and the ability to score. That two-way impact extends to the net. Gridley is a physical presence when she's lined up to block, using her size to take away space and make opposing hitters work around her. She has a 117-inch approach touch and a 115-inch block touch. With her combination of size, setting consistency and attacking ability, Gridley has the physical tools to impact the game in multiple roles. She's an intriguing 2028 setter/opposite to continue watching as she develops and gains more experience against high-level competition.

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Afton Dansie | 2028 | South County VBC | Herriman High School

At 6'0", Afton Dansie is a 2028 setter/opposite from South County VBC and Herriman High School who has already built an impressive résumé at both the club and high school levels. Dansie is committed to Utah Tech and brings a combination of size, versatility and competitive experience to the position. Dansie helped Club Sand 15 Nina finish second at the 2025 USAV National Championships, giving her experience competing on one of the biggest stages in the club season. Her success has also carried over to the high school level, where she earned First Team All-Region honors and was named Team MVP last season. At 6'0" , Dansie has the versatility to contribute both as a setter and an attacker. She currently has a 117-inch approach touch and a 113-inch block touch, giving her the physical tools to be involved at the net while running the offense. With national-level club experience, high school recognition and a commitment to Utah Tech already in place, Dansie is a 2028 Southwest setter to know as she continues preparing for the next level.

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London Clark | 2028 | Livewire Volleyball | Sandra Day O'Connor High School

At 5'8", London Clark is a 2028 setter from Livewire Volleyball and Sandra Day O'Connor High School who has built a strong résumé through years of high-level club and high school competition. Clark is committed to San Jose State and is currently in her junior season at Sandra Day O'Connor, where she has been a varsity player since her freshman year. Clark has been a consistent presence in high-level club competition, helping her teams earn multiple bids to USAV Nationals and make deep runs at major national events. Her club experience includes a second-place finish at the 2024 USAV Nationals and a fifth-place finish in the USA Division in 2025, while she has also competed in the Summer NIT in both 2025 and 2026. She has served as a club team captain five times, adding a clear leadership component to her résumé. At Sandra Day O'Connor, Clark has been part of a program that finished second in Arizona's 6A Division in 2024 and fifth in 2025. The team also won both the Rise N' Roar and House of Payne tournaments in 2024 and finished second at both events in 2025. Clark currently has a 114-inch approach touch and a 110-inch block touch. With extensive national club experience, three years of varsity volleyball and a long track record of leadership, Clark enters her junior season as an experienced 2028 setter preparing to continue her career at San Jose State.

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Jade Smith | 2028 | Arizona Storm Elite VBC | Arcadia High School

Jade Smith is a 2028 setter from AZ Storm Elite VBC and Arcadia High School who has developed a reputation for her composure, consistency and ability to control an offense. At 5'8", Smith is committed to Saint Mary's and brings a balanced physical profile to the position, with both a 115-inch approach touch and 115-inch block touch. Smith's game is built around her ability to make good decisions and consistently deliver well-located sets. She controls tempo effectively and gives her hitters the opportunity to stay aggressive and in rhythm, while also doing a good job of keeping opposing defenses from getting comfortable. Her ability to distribute the ball across multiple options adds an element of unpredictability to her offense. With her steady approach, court control and ability to run an efficient offense, Smith has established herself as a composed 2028 setter who continues to develop as she prepares for the next level at Saint Mary's.

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Olivia Kiel | 2028 | Top Flight Volleyball Club | Faith Lutheran High School

Olivia Kiel is a 2028 setter from Top Flight Volleyball Club and Faith Lutheran High School who has already established herself as a key contributor for her high school program. Kiel has been named Team MVP and is currently ranked No. 12 in Nevada in assists, giving her a strong statistical résumé as she continues through her junior season. Kiel has also taken advantage of opportunities to experience college volleyball environments, attending camps at the University of Tampa, TCU, Utah and several other programs. Those experiences have given her additional exposure to different coaching staffs and training environments as she continues developing her game. With her current production as one of Nevada's assist leaders, a Team MVP honor and extensive camp experience, Kiel is a 2028 setter we'll be watching as she continues through her junior season and works toward the next level.

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Addison Martin | 2029 | AZ Storm Elite | Cactus High School

At 5'10", Addison Martin is a 2029 setter from AZ Storm Elite and Cactus High School who has already established herself as a high-level prospect with an impressive combination of production, recognition and national-level experience. Martin has been involved with the USA Volleyball NTDP, participating in the Winter Series in 2024 and Summer Series in 2025, and has continued to build her résumé through major college camp opportunities. Martin had a standout 2025 high school season, earning First Team All-Region honors and being named the Region Offensive Player of the Year. She has also left her mark in the Cactus High School record book as the school's record holder for aces, highlighting her ability to impact the game beyond simply running the offense. Her experience in college environments is extensive, with Martin attending high-level camps at Nebraska, Arizona State, UCLA and several other programs. Combined with her NTDP experience and high school production, she has already spent significant time competing and training in environments that challenge top young players. There is a lot that separates Martin from a typical 2029 prospect. She has already earned major individual honors, holds a school record, has experience within the NTDP system and continues to seek out opportunities at some of the highest levels of the college game. Martin is a high-level player in the 2029 class, and we'll be watching closely as she continues to develop.

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Olivia Shwer | 2029 | AZ Revolution | Xavier College Prep

Olivia Shwer is a 2029 setter from AZ Revolution and Xavier College Prep who has already taken on a leadership role at the high school level, serving as a team captain. Shwer has also begun building valuable experience in college environments, attending camps at Alabama, Brown, UCSB and several other programs. Her continued involvement in the college camp circuit gives Shwer the opportunity to train in different settings and gain experience around collegiate coaching staffs as she develops her game. Combined with her role as a high school team captain, she is a 2029 setter we'll be keeping an eye on as she continues to grow as a prospect.