On the Radar: Position can be as important as talent

There are certain positions in sports that you simply can't pick up on the fly, much less transition easily into at the next level.

Quarterbacks in football come to mind. Catchers or pitchers in baseball.

Douglas High volleyball setter Megan Mitchell found the same with her position.

After picking up volleyball in seventh grade, she played two years of middle school ball and plugged into the club circuit.

She started dabbling at setter as a freshman and was thrust into a starting role on the varsity squad as a sophomore after some injuries above her on the depth chart.

"I got a later start than most people," she said. "I think it's best to start younger. But setting is definitely a different job.

"You're not just paying attention to one part of that play. You're always watching the other side to see what is developing and you're directing traffic on your side. You're kind of like a quarterback."

Despite having to pick things up on the fly as a sophomore, she still earned second-team all-league honors. As a junior, she broke out with a stellar season.

"My first year on varsity, I was kind of scared," she said. "You can't do that in that position. You have to love being in the middle of everything."

It's something she's grown to love.

"During open gyms, I've tried to go back to trying hitting from the outside or whatever, but it's too hard to not be in on every play. I like bettering the ball and I love giving good sets to good hitters. It's not a fame position, but you're right there."

As recruiting interest has begun to pick up, Mitchell realized her position has brought with it some blessings and curses.

On one hand, there is a much smaller pool of qualified setters heading into their senior year than there are outside or middle hitters.

On the other, each school typically only signs one setter every two years.

"You have to stay on top of who is looking for what," Mitchell said. "We have a list of schools broken down by if they are looking for a setter and if they aren't.

"That narrows it down."

Another plus is that while she has her own recruiting video, she is featured on many, many others.

"It's funny because a lot of girls ask me to set for their videos," she said. "You can't do a lot of the basic things coaches are looking for without a set. I actually made my video while I was helping other girls with their videos."

It's something that has paid some dividends.

"There's been some instances where someone will send their video to a school and they'll watch it and ask who the setter was," she said. "Then I'll get a call. It's kind of funny."