Before the season began it may have been unclear whether a sophomore could replace a former All-American setter on a Big 12 volleyball team. Jenelle Hudson has made a statement early this season in her new role as the starting setter replacing Alison Landwehr.

Through nonconference play and through the first three matches of Big 12 play, Hudson ranks 18th nationally in assists per set with 11.43 according to NCAA.com and second in the Big 12 behind Kansas’ Erin McNorton who has 12.26 assists per set.

“I think she’s doing a terrific job and the stats back that up,” ISU coach Christy Johnson-Lynch said. “We’re hitting for a pretty nice hitting percentage. We’re one of the best offensive teams in the conference this year, so I think that alone tells you what she’s doing for the team offensively. I think she makes really good decisions. Just about every time she sets the ball I think, ‘Yep, that’s what I would’ve done too.’”

Hudson’s 11.43 assists per set actually ranks higher than Landwehr’s 11.32 where she finished last season. Landwehr finished last season ranked 21st nationally in assists per set.

Mackenzie Bigbee, who ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 3.48 kills per set said that Landwehr and Hudson are “totally different” setters and that it’s been nice having Hudson setting the ball to her this season.

“She’s just so athletic. She can get to so many balls that you wouldn’t really think a setter could get to,” Bigbee said. “I think her sets are great and she’s been doing a great job.”

Hudson’s top performance came early in the season in a match against Texas A&M on Aug. 31 where she posted 59 assists in four sets. On Sept. 4, she posted 57 assists in five sets in a win against Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

Hudson said that she thinks herself and the rest of the team has gotten better as they’ve transitioned from nonconference play into Big 12 play.

“We had a rough start but we really started getting after it and we’ve been doing good,” Hudson said.

Johnson-Lynch said that she really likes the way Hudson makes decisions.

“She’s got a great feel for the game, a great defender, great competitor,” Johnson-Lynch said.

Currently the Cyclones as a team are second in the Big 12 with 13.26 assists per set trailing only Kansas who has 13.48 assists per set. This ranks them 24th nationally.