Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Sports

Freshman setter Hannah Deterding sets up a shot during the Panthers' game against Murray State on Sept 23 at Lantz Arena. Deterding has learned to use her skill and her voice to help direct her teammates on the court.(Eric Hiltner|Daily Eastern News)

For football, the quarterback is the field leader. In basketball, it's point guard. For baseball, the catcher directs play.

Any of these leadership positions is difficult for even seniors to step into, yet for freshman setter Hannah Deterding, it is almost natural.

Deterding has been the Panthers' starting setter since Sept. 6 and is gaining valuable experience as the court leader.

During her first start against Chicago State, Deterding replaced junior setter Lauren Schutte as the player to run the Panthers' offensive attack. She said she was nervous for the first volley.

"I was really nervous, but I knew what had to be done," Deterding said. "We have only two setters, so I knew what to do in the system."

For that first match, Deterding led Eastern to its last victory in a three-set sweep.

The freshman notched a double-double with 25 assists and 10 digs.

However, she said she wasn't impressed with her play.

"I didn't use my voice well, but I'm learning how to do that more," Deterding said. She said she has to get used to directing her teammates - who for the most part are all older - on the court.

One of the main challenges Deterding said she has faced in adjusting from the high school game to the college level was competing with older girls and gaining their respect as a floor leader.

"I need to talk to them straight instead of beating around the bush so we can score," Deterding said. "At first, I was uneasy with it. I didn't know if they would accept me. Now they know my ability and are adjusting to my sets."

Team trust is coming through for the freshman. Eastern sophomore outside hitter Erin Hake had 13 kills against Southeast Missouri on Thursday. Hake said Deterding helped her in being effective offensively against the Redhawks.

"Mostly, Hannah was giving me great sets and the offense was moving," Hake said. "She gave me great opportunity to score."

The Redhawks' defense was also impressed with Deterding's scoring ability. As a lefty, Deterding can quickly dump the ball for a kill on the second hit to surprise the opponent's defense. Deterding scored five of her 23 season kills against Southeast Missouri.

"We weren't expecting it," Redhawk junior outside hitter Karleigh DeLong said.

Southeast Missouri head coach Renata Nowacki said she saw Deterding's leadership abiltiy with her 30 assists Thursday. Nowacki said she doesn't think being a freshman deters Deterding from leading the Panthers.

"It isn't experience, but it's how other players react with (the setter)," Nowacki said.

Eastern head coach Lori Bennett was a setter at Indiana State and has helped coach Deterding through the tough situations setters face.

Bennett said Deterding has made strides as a player in the last month.

"She is fairly new in our defensive system but is working hard on learning it," Bennett said. "I also see her jump setting and making out-of-system balls playable for our hitters."

In recruiting Deterding, Bennett had to replace former Eastern setter Maren Crabtree, who is second on Eastern's all-time assist list with 4,637.

Bennett said she was looking for an intelligent player to replace Crabtree.

"Hannah has a really good understanding of the game," Bennett said. "She makes pretty good decisions as a freshman. That is what we were looking in replacing Maren, in which the person can grow in the leadership roll."

Deterding was a four-sport athlete in basketball, soccer, swimming and volleyball at Monticello High School.

She was named a team captain during her senior year in volleyball and led the Owls to a 27-2 record, second place in the Okaw Valley Conference and a regional championship.

Deterding is second in career assists and aces, third in digs and seventh in kills in Monticello history. She said she was interested in attending Eastern because Bennett was an assistant coach to her father Mike's club team, Eastside Twin City.

"I kind of knew I wanted to come here," Deterding said. "I knew I could play right away and start helping."

Even though this season has gotten off to a rough start, as the Panthers have a 3-13 record and an 0-6 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play, Deterding said she is confident in the Panthers' future.

"Hopefully, I'll still be starting and helping them win," Deterding said. "I'm hoping that we will start winning and get to the point of being one of the winning teams in volleyball."


Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu