NU volleyball setter Anderson strives to lead team forward

In every team sport, there's a designated player who commands his or her teammates in the heat of a game.

In football, it's the quarterback. In basketball, it's the point guard.

And in volleyball, it's the setter.

This person must be able to contain emotions, stay poised in high-pressure situations, make quick decisions and coordinate the rest of the team.

For Nebraska's volleyball team, no one does this job better than Sydney Anderson.

"It's a hard thing to do," NU coach John Cook said. "It's just like a quarterback trying to make reads and knowing where to throw and making calls. It looks easy from up here, but it really is a hard thing to do."

The Nebraska junior plays a major role for the No. 9 Cornhuskers and does it well.

The All-American from Salt Lake City, Utah, is averaging 10.44 assists per set and currently ranks sixth among Big 12 setters. Throughout the season, Cook has reputedly stressed the importance of serving and passing. Anderson is arguably the most important player when it comes to passing.

"That's why I'm a setter," Anderson said. "I know I can set anyone on this team, and they'll do their job."

This year, Anderson's job has been made much more difficult by the addition of freshman Hannah Werth and the move of Brooke Delano to middle blocker.

Anderson has been faced with the task of setting both of the high-intensity players. In most matches, either Werth or Anderson will face a double team, and it's up to Anderson to find the other for one-on-one advantages.

The NU co-captain says the biggest tool to success is simply communicating.

"What really helps is I tell Brooke, ‘Hey, you got two blockers,'" Anderson said. "She turns around and says, ‘I don't care, set me the ball, I'll put it away.'"

Anderson has worked well with her teammates thus far, and it shows in their stats. With the help of Anderson, Delano has complied 132 kills on a .355 hitting percentage. Werth, who has been named Big 12 Freshman of the Week twice this fall, is second on the team in kills with 140.

Off the court, Anderson has attempted to fulfill a much-needed leadership role on a team with only one senior, Kori Cooper. Anderson has had to contribute with teammates vocally as well as emotionally.

After a tough season opening loss to now-No. 8 Michigan, an emotional Anderson said in the post-game press conference that they weren't playing "Nebraska volleyball." She said any loss is never forgotten and always used as motivation.

In a way reminiscent of the famed Tim Tebow speech after the 2008 Florida football loss to Ole Miss, Anderson made a guarantee that the team never wanted to feel that way again and that she personally would do everything in her power to assure they didn't.

"Coach always says take it personal," Anderson said. "I definitely do, and I think this team does. We hate losing; we're a team that loves to compete, and we just need to find that rhythm and that cohesiveness and use it."

As the team looks to continue climbing up the Big 12 standings, Anderson will be the first one to remind NU's players to stay on track.

"We need to have the focus before every match," Anderson said. "We need to know that we can never take a day off. As Nebraska volleyball players, we have a target on our back, people are out for us. For us, the pressure is a privilege, a privilege that people want to come out and compete against us."

jaysloan@dailynebraskan.com