The setter of any volleyball team is the quarterback on the court.

Fortunately for the York girls volleyball team and its coach, Patty Iverson, they have two signal callers this year. Emily Iverson and Katie Gallagher share the responsibility of being the Dukes’ leader on the court in the team’s 6-2 offensive scheme, a system that features two setters.

“I rarely choose to run a 6-2 offense because I think that in order for your hitters to be successful, it is better for them to get used to the style and speed of one setter,” Patty Iverson said. “This year I have Katie and Emily, two setters who meet the needs I have for the setter’s position.

“While there are still differences in their styles, it is not enough to be a deterrent to the hitters.”

That relationship between setter and hitter is crucial, because without successful sets, it is much more difficult for the hitter to find their own success.

“I think you can have a great hitter on a team without a good setter and the team could have a very mediocre season, yet I have seen teams with average hitters and a great setter who has optimized the success of the hitters by making good choices and good sets on offense,” Patty Iverson said.

Being a setter can be a stressful job. When an opponent hits a ball over the net, the setter needs to already know what the opposition’s defense is doing, who is blocking on the other side of the net, and where each of her hitters prefer to hit the ball. Add to that remembering where she has played the ball earlier in the match and determining who on her team has the hot hand, and there is plenty going through a setter’s head on every play.

“I think the most important quality for a setter is to be mentally tough,” Emily Iverson said. “As a setter, you have to keep track of a lot of different things.”

In addition to that, setters need to be athletic. They have to be able to adjust to any pass, no matter how off target it may be. In York’s system, Iverson and Gallagher also have to be able to jump set, something both have picked up as the season has gone along.

York’s two setters also have to be strong communicators, because, as the play callers, they have to be heard by their teammates, and they have to be trusted.

It is a taxing position, one both Iverson and Gallagher are excelling at.

“Perhaps the biggest plus in having Emily and Katie as setters is that they push each other to become better in all parts of the game,” Patty Iverson said. “I have seen a huge improvement in both of their skills and tactics throughout the course of the season.”
 

THREE KEYS TO THE POSITION

1. An incredible work ethic — A setter needs to be the hardest working player on the court, both during a game and in practice.

2. Athleticism — Setters have to handle a variety of passes and have to set balls at different heights and distances, in addition to playing defense.

3. Strong decision-making abilities — A setter has to be able to focus on multiple things at one time, all while getting ready to provide a perfect assist to one of her teammates