The 2026 Indiana high school volleyball season is nearly upon us! Our Insider Brian Haenchen will be getting you prepared for the upcoming campaign with a week’s worth of content, all leading up to the unveiling of our preseason Super Team on Aug. 14 and Central Indiana preseason Fab 15 on Aug. 17.
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Today, we’re looking at the state’s top setters.
Emily Blevins, Westfield
The senior Eastern Kentucky commit cleared 1,000 career assists last season, totaling 572 in 95 sets for the regional champion Shamrocks. Blevins, who split setting duties with Kenna Robinson, also logged 210 digs, 30 aces and seven kills.
Nicole Bontrager, Valparaiso
The Vikings ran a two-setter system last year and Bontrager matched senior Addi Bowen for the team lead with her 326 assists. The junior was charged with only eight errors on 1,111 attempts and rounded out her line with 158 digs, 12 blocks, 42 aces and 86 kills.
Madison Branam, Warsaw
A six-foot setter and opposite side, Branam doled out 528 assists as a sophomore, leaving her with 965 for her career. She added 157 kills, 66 aces, 43 blocks and 287 digs for the Tigers.
Elise Browning, Bishop Chatard
Browning, a sophomore, was charged with only four ball-handling errors on 1,779 attempts. She racked up 685 assists for the Trojans, who averaged eight kills per set as a team. Browning rounded out her line with 132 digs, 24 blocks, 35 aces and 17 kills.
Marlee Chafin, Southport
A senior Ashland commit, Chafin split time between outside hitter and setter last season, totaling 324 kills (.269 hit%) and 286 assists. She clocked 866 assists in 100 sets as a sophomore (2024), and has 1,168 for her career. Chafin also posted 58 aces, 18 blocks and 317 digs.
Claire Ducey, Guerin Catholic
Ducey racked up 1,006 assists while running a Golden Eagles offense that hit .281 and averaged 12.1 kills per set. The senior also had three kills, 19 aces, a couple blocks and 166 digs.
Honor Durham, Noblesville
Ranked sixth overall in the Class of 2029 by PrepDig Indiana, Durham will be replacing record-setting 2026 grad Madison Brown at the helm of the Millers offense. Durham appeared in 11 sets last season, picking up 34 assists, four kills, five aces, 11 digs and a block.
London Evans, Carmel
The Marquette commit is widely considered among the state’s best at her position. She accumulated 476 assists in 103 sets last season, and also upped her kills total to 221 on .244 hitting — both career-highs. Evans, who also played on the right side, had 28 aces, 55 blocks and 303 digs. She has 1,123 career assists.
Charlee Groninger, Plainfield
The 5-9 junior shined at the helm of the state runner-up Quakers’ attack, racking up 1,249 assists in 117 sets. She had 50-plus helpers in three matches, including 52 in a five-set win over Center Grove. Groninger also notched 98 kills, 34 aces, 38 blocks and 244 digs.
Caitlyn Gutt, Fishers
Ranked 13th in her class, Gutt shared setting responsibilities with 2026 grad Ava Tester, racking up 416 assists in 106 sets. She also logged 146 digs, 36 aces and 17 kills for the Tigers.
Braelynn Hodgman, Bishop Dwenger
The 2027 Southern Illinois-Edwardsville commit split setter responsibilities for the 3A state runner-up last season, racking up 350 in 76 sets. She was a big factor on the attack as a right side, too, totaling 229 terminations on .309 hitting. Hodgman rounded out her line with 48 blocks, 197 digs and seven aces, and is the team’s top-returning attacker.
Landree Johnson, Yorktown
Johnson dazzled in her freshman season, racking up 1,292 assists in 118 sets (10.9 per set). She also put down 22 kills, 38 aces and 19 blocks, and accumulated 264 digs.
Kyra Joostberns, Lawrence North
The senior Ferris State commit averaged eight assists per set, totaling 852 in 106 sets. She also notched 128 kills on .256 hitting, 36 aces, 44 digs and 215 digs for the Wildcats, who averaged 10.8 kills per set.
Hallie Knepp, Barr-Reeve
A first team all-state honoree, Knepp racked up 1,033 assists (9.1 per set), pushing her career total to 2,057 through three varsity seasons. She also clocked 34 kills, 29 aces, 18 blocks and 283 digs (631 career).
Rylie Neal, Providence
The multi-sport sophomore registered 1,005 assists in her debut season, with only two errors on 2,964 attempts. The 5-9 Neal rounded out her season line with 64 kills, 53 aces (244 points), 36 total blocks and 301 digs.
Elli Oskey, Fort Wayne Carroll
The heir apparent to Sophia Gisslen, Oskey participated in 107 sets for the state champs last season, registering 330 assists, 194 kills (.355 hit%), 86 digs, 58 blocks and 21 aces.
Calista Pence, Avon
Pence had the unenviable task of replacing Isabelle Brown last season and the 2027 standout did so with aplomb, recording 622 assists in 87 sets. She also tallied 70 kills, 47 aces, 29 blocks and 136 digs.
Kenna Robinson, Westfield
The other half of the Rocks’ setting tandem, Robinson racked up 516 assists (5.4 per set), with only seven errors on 1,357 attempts. She also clocked 159 digs, six kills and 26 aces.
Anabelle Schembra, Center Grove
The senior UCF commit cleared 1,000 assists for a second consecutive season, clocking 1,151 in 120 sets (9.6 per set). She has 3,025 career helpers and completed her season line with 82 kills, 70 aces, 34 blocks and 312 digs for the sectional champion Trojans.
Evelyn Shirk, LaPorte
Ranked tops in the 2029 class by PrepDig Indiana, Shirk dished out 488 assists in her debut campaign. She also tallied 195 kills, 59 aces, 55 blocks (33 solo) and 295 digs across 100 sets.
Maggie Sliwa, Hamilton Southeastern
The 6-2 junior, who committed to North Carolina-Wilmington over the summer, shared setting duties with 2026 grad Jasmine Daniels last season and accumulated 378 assists. She registered 94 digs, put down a couple kills and served 15 aces.
Emily Williams, Franklin Central
The senior USI commit enters her senior season with 1,987 career assists. She accounted for a career-high 952 of those helpers last season. Williams also had 37 kills (.276 hit%), 62 aces, 34 blocks and 197 digs.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA volleyball preview: Indiana’s top setters to watch in 2026
Reporting by Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
