BRODHEAD - As a setter, Payton Wright is usually right on the mark for the Brodhead volleyball team.
Wright, a junior, may be an unheralded part of the team's sectional run. Wright will be in the middle of the match when Brodhead (30-5) will play in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal Thursday, Oct. 31 at Markesan.
"She may go unnoticed as far as the big kills," Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said. "The setter is like the point guard in basketball. She has to be able to run the floor. She gets the ball where we need it to go. She's definitely that important piece to the puzzle."
Wright is at the heart of every point as a setter. She has to know the tendencies of each hitter and must know where they like the ball. If she sets it too close to the net it could get blocked. If it's a little bit off, it throws off the balance and timing of the hitter.
"If I can throw the ball up even if it's a bad pass, I can trust that they will put the ball away," Wright said of her team's hitters. "It gives me a lot of confidence."
Wright has served as the starting setter for three years. Being a setter requires a lot of timing and learning the nuances of each teammate and where they like the set.
"You have to have good court awareness and know who the hot hitters are and know where your hitters are," she said. "It's a lot of believing in yourself and having confidence."
Wright was in sixth grade the last time the Cardinals made a run to state in 2008. She's looking forward to making her mark as a junior.
"I'm really excited," Wright said. "We have a really good shot of going all the way."
They may be separated by about 19 miles, but Monticello (18-3) also has a reliable setter they can turn to. Monticello senior Clare Bruns leads the Ponies into a sectional semifinal showdown with Catholic Central at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. Catholic Central is looking to win its third straight state championship. The Hilltoppers have won the state title five of the last seven years including three straight from 2006-08.
Bruns has been a two-year starter at setter for the Ponies. She has to know the way each hitter likes the ball set.
"I love setting," Bruns said. "It takes a lot of thinking and trust in my hitters. I think there is a lot of trust for them to trust me to put the ball where they can hit it. I'm very proud to work with them."
She has attended several club volleyball camps to hone her skills as a setter.
"I learned a lot of mechanics and toughness to become a better all-around player," she said.
Monticello coach Scott Smice is convinced her club volleyball experiences have paid off.
"I believe she distributes the ball to all of the hitters the best she can," Smice said. "I couldn't ask for anything better as a setter. She's a key person in our offense. She has sense of being more aggressive at that position."
Bruns said jump setting can help hitters time their spikes better.
"I have found that Paige (Dilley) likes a four-shoot set, which is a lower set," Bruns said.
She's looking forward to the sectional semifinal match against Catholic Central.
"We are really excited and pumped up," Bruns said. "We know they are beatable. We want so badly to win. We don't want to be done yet."
Smice said in past years Catholic Central has had some dominant teams.
"Some say they are not the same team this year," he said. "I'm optimistic we can play with them. We have a ton of hitters. I think the mental side of Monticello volleyball is starting to show. I'm confident that we will compete with them."
Wright, a junior, may be an unheralded part of the team's sectional run. Wright will be in the middle of the match when Brodhead (30-5) will play in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal Thursday, Oct. 31 at Markesan.
"She may go unnoticed as far as the big kills," Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said. "The setter is like the point guard in basketball. She has to be able to run the floor. She gets the ball where we need it to go. She's definitely that important piece to the puzzle."
Wright is at the heart of every point as a setter. She has to know the tendencies of each hitter and must know where they like the ball. If she sets it too close to the net it could get blocked. If it's a little bit off, it throws off the balance and timing of the hitter.
"If I can throw the ball up even if it's a bad pass, I can trust that they will put the ball away," Wright said of her team's hitters. "It gives me a lot of confidence."
Wright has served as the starting setter for three years. Being a setter requires a lot of timing and learning the nuances of each teammate and where they like the set.
"You have to have good court awareness and know who the hot hitters are and know where your hitters are," she said. "It's a lot of believing in yourself and having confidence."
Wright was in sixth grade the last time the Cardinals made a run to state in 2008. She's looking forward to making her mark as a junior.
"I'm really excited," Wright said. "We have a really good shot of going all the way."
They may be separated by about 19 miles, but Monticello (18-3) also has a reliable setter they can turn to. Monticello senior Clare Bruns leads the Ponies into a sectional semifinal showdown with Catholic Central at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. Catholic Central is looking to win its third straight state championship. The Hilltoppers have won the state title five of the last seven years including three straight from 2006-08.
Bruns has been a two-year starter at setter for the Ponies. She has to know the way each hitter likes the ball set.
"I love setting," Bruns said. "It takes a lot of thinking and trust in my hitters. I think there is a lot of trust for them to trust me to put the ball where they can hit it. I'm very proud to work with them."
She has attended several club volleyball camps to hone her skills as a setter.
"I learned a lot of mechanics and toughness to become a better all-around player," she said.
Monticello coach Scott Smice is convinced her club volleyball experiences have paid off.
"I believe she distributes the ball to all of the hitters the best she can," Smice said. "I couldn't ask for anything better as a setter. She's a key person in our offense. She has sense of being more aggressive at that position."
Bruns said jump setting can help hitters time their spikes better.
"I have found that Paige (Dilley) likes a four-shoot set, which is a lower set," Bruns said.
She's looking forward to the sectional semifinal match against Catholic Central.
"We are really excited and pumped up," Bruns said. "We know they are beatable. We want so badly to win. We don't want to be done yet."
Smice said in past years Catholic Central has had some dominant teams.
"Some say they are not the same team this year," he said. "I'm optimistic we can play with them. We have a ton of hitters. I think the mental side of Monticello volleyball is starting to show. I'm confident that we will compete with them."
