As the ISU volleyball team heads into its most anticipated season in years, there is one question on everyone’s mind –

Who is going to set?

With the graduation of Amanda Craig, the Cyclones will be turning to a pair of young setters to run the offense.

Sophomore Alyssa Gintant and freshman Kaylee Manns will start the season sharing the position.

“Both setters will play early,” coach Christy Johnson said. “Because of their youth, it would be rare for one to set the whole season.”

Both players spent time with the starters at the team’s intrasquad scrimmage Saturday night, a trend that will continue into the season.

Each player brings different attributes to the table that could help the team and earn one of them the starting position.

Gintant spent the spring setting with the first team and getting comfortable with the hitters.

She also had a season to learn from Craig, one of the most productive setters in ISU history.

“It was great to get that experience during the spring season and work with the hitters,” Gintant said.

Although Manns doesn’t have the experience Gintant does, she does boast an impressive high school career and athleticism that should allow her to fit in quickly.

“Both of them are so different. It’s hard to establish who is better,” Johnson said.

Although they will start the season splitting time, Johnson said she expects one starter to emerge as the season progresses, but she expects them both to be ready to play and help out the team at any time.

“We are running a faster offense this year, so whichever one fits in better with the team will play,” Johnson said.

The transition into that new offense should be made easier by the amount of experience the hitters have. Both outside hitters and both middle hitters are returning starters, and the two competing right sides have plenty of experience.

“We don’t really have to worry about the hitters,” Johnson said.

“With their experience, they don’t need as much [from the setter].”

Both setters have spent summer practice picking the brains of their hitters and trying to get into a comfortable rhythm.

“I try to come out at practice and talk to the hitters,” Gintant said.

Manns agrees.

“As a team, we are working very hard, and I am working hard to make sure I can get the sets where the hitters want them,” Manns said.

This kind of competition can sometimes lead to animosity between players and can be detrimental to a team’s chemistry. That doesn’t appear to be the case for the Cyclones.

“Both players are really good people and are supportive of each other,” Johnson said. “We don’t have to worry about either of them hurting the team.”

That sentiment is echoed by both players, who said they are taking the competition very seriously, but trying to keep it friendly, too.

As a freshman, Manns said she has been welcomed onto the team and doesn’t want to disturb the chemistry.

“We both want what is best for the team,” Manns said. “Whoever starts, we are behind each other 100 percent.”