He has been a contributor to the men's volleyball team for the last three years, but 1992 is the year for setter Jim Schall of the men's volleyball team.

In previous years, he has both backed up and shared duties with Scott Miller, who in 1991 was voted the best setter in the East and a third-team All American.

However, Miller graduated last year, opening the way for his backup. Schall has since stepped naturally into the role of full-time starting setter and undisputed leader of the offense.

"He's got the most flexibility of anyone I've seen. We ask him to do it all and he does it," Coach Tom Peterson said. "I think our offense is one of the most sophisticated offenses you'll see, a quick offense. We ask him to do it and he's 5-foot-9 and we're asking him to do things that guys who are 6-foot-9 are asked to do. I think he's one of the best setters in the country."

Ok, so you may not notice him for his height, which is average for a U.S. male but short for a volleyball player. You would also not notice him for pronounced displays of emotion that the sport of volleyball, with its wide momentum swings, tends to bring out of its players.

That is not bad by any means, though. Assistant Coach Mark Pavlik said that while the team needs fired-up players such as middle blocker Winfield Evens and rightside hitter Tom Gingrich, Schall's quiet demeanor fits the perfect mold for a setter.

"The setter should be so that when all hell's breaking loose around him, he's calm, cool and collected," Pavlik said. "People look at him and say he knows what he's doing with the offense."

What is noticeable in Schall is the obvious role he plays as the team's proverbial "quarterback." He calls the plays on all crucial sideout situations and sets all spikes that prevent points for the opposition.

Acute concentration from Schall is thus important, Peterson said. But Schall's calm exterior belies a much different interior.

"He's emotional in the right way," Peterson said. "I don't think you're going to see him yell and scream but he is emotional nonetheless. Our guys know him and if you knew him, his personality is very intense when he's playing -- very, very intense."

"Every once in a while you need to show a little emotion," Schall said. "I think I try to concentrate on what I'm doing but also provide a little emotion when I need to."

What he has been doing so far this season is creating what middle blocker Ramon Hernandez called "a more versatile offense." Hernandez said that Schall can set balls to the front or back row and can set the middle as well as the sides.

"You're pretty easy to read as a setter if you're going outside, going to the antenna all the time," Schall said. "So you do have to establish the middle attack and mix things up as much as you can."

Schall's play has been particularly well-received in light of the team's early season problems with injuries and consistency. But improvement has been the catch word for the team since its convincing win over George Mason in late February.

"We're starting to get into a better groove and more guys are playing good volleyball," Schall said. "Right now, there's three or four guys that can come in and pass the ball well."

If the improvement continues and Schall installs an even more versatile offense this last half of the season, it might be somewhat of a mirror of his own play -- setting is hardly Schall's only talent.

While Schall said he is disappointed with his digging so far, a 35-inch vertical jump has aided in a surprisingly strong blocking game. Add to that a tricky short serve he has developed and Schall becomes an all-around asset.

"He plays great defense, he can block, he can set and he has a good serve. He does everything," Hernandez said.