This was supposed to be a "watch and learn" year for Dan O'Dell.

Now, the freshman setter for the Penn State men's volleyball team hopes to help lead the No. 9 Nittany Lions deep into the postseason.

Penn State (16-5, 9-0 EIVA) entered this season with its biggest question mark being at setter, as three-time All-American Jose Quinones' career ended with a trip to the final four last year. Penn State men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik appointed junior Nate Matthews as the team's starting setter, and the team showed confidence in Pavlik's decision, electing Matthews as the team's co-captain along with Zach Slenker.

However, O'Dell began to gain more playing time throughout the first part of the season, and took over the starting role during the Penn State Invitational in February. He never looked back, as the Lions are 11-3 with O'Dell as the starter, including impressive wins over No. 3 BYU and three other ranked opponents.

"He's really showed a competitive maturity that not many young setters develop this early in their careers," Pavlik said.

O'Dell has led Penn State to a 3-0 record in matches decided in five games. The first of the three matches came before the team's spring break trip, as the Lions defeated George Mason in their first five-game match of the year at Rec Hall. O'Dell showed a calmness in the match's fifth game, which caught the eye of senior Carlos Guerra, who said he was impressed with the manner in which O'Dell maintained his poise and confidence in the final game.

On the road against BYU, O'Dell again played well in the team's fifth game, directing the Lions' offense to its most impressive win of the season in front of more than 2,300 BYU fans. O'Dell said that it was exciting to play in such a close game on the road, and the team's success in five-game matches can be credited to everyone.

"Everybody gets really fired up in the fifth games, and the team plays with a lot of confidence," O'Dell said.

The games out west were important for Penn State, as the final four will take place in Long Beach, Calif., this year.

While it is too early to say how O'Dell's career will compare with Quinones', he has already put his name in the record books. Against George Mason, O'Dell tallied 76 assists, a Penn State record, breaking the mark of 73 assists set by Quinones. O'Dell also notched 74 assists in the team's five-game win against USC.

As far as adjusting to the college lifestyle and life as a freshman, O'Dell said it has really been no adjustment at all. Dan is the third O'Dell brother to attend Penn State, and his brother Brian is a redshirt sophomore on the team. While O'Dell is one of the team's only two freshmen, his play will be paramount to the team's success as it comes down the final stretch of the season and prepares for the postseason

"My teammates don't want me to be a freshman out there," O'Dell said. "They want me to lead."