Filling the shoes of an All-American setter is no easy task for any college volleyball team, but that’s what the Cyclones must do now that they are without Alison Landwehr.

Sophomore Jenelle Hudson will get her chance this season.

Head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch announced after the intrasquad scrimmage Saturday that Hudson will be the starting setter when the season begins Friday, Aug. 30.

That doesn’t mean she wasn’t given some competition for the position from junior Taylor Goetz.

“She’s so athletic; she can get to just about anything; she’s just a fun player to watch,” Johnson-Lynch said of Hudson. “I feel like her sets to the outsides are very, very consistent.”

At the intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 24, Hudson had 37 assists to go along with six digs and an ace. Last season, Landwehr finished 21st in the nation in assists per set with 11.32 and was a third-team All-American.

“(Landwehr’s) a great mentor and great leader to follow behind,” Hudson said. “I’ve had lots of talks with her. She’s told me her experiences and she’s just a great person to follow.”

Although Goetz won’t be the starting setter this season, Johnson-Lynch liked what she saw out of her in the preseason.

“She played a pretty limited role the first two years,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She actually quit the team last spring and decided to rejoin us, and she’s surprised me. She’s really doing a nice job.”

Goetz said she and Hudson have been very supportive of each other since they started practice.

“We’re just working with each other day in and day out, just figuring out how we can make each other better,” Goetz said. “I think competition is always a positive thing for teams.”

Since Goetz came back, Johnson-Lynch said they have talked about the leadership opportunities for her.

“This team, because it’s a little bit younger, needs a couple of veteran players to really shine and show some leadership,” Johnson-Lynch said. “No matter what happens, whether she’s starting, or a role player or whatever, I was really excited about her chance to show some leadership.”

Johnson-Lynch is also more than comfortable with Goetz on the floor when Hudson is out. 

“I feel really good about that fact that if we should need her to come in and play, she will do a great job,” Johnson-Lynch said.