When a casual observer watches volleyball, it sometimes helps to relate the game's many quirks and positional roles to certain aspects of other sports. When trying to explain the role and responsibilities of a setter, perhaps the best inter-sport comparison is to those of a quarterback. If that is the case, then Penn State setter Dan O'Dell is like a Michael Vick -- possessing the ability to beat other teams in more than just the traditional role of his position.

O'Dell, a junior from Rochester, N.Y., utilizes his 6-foot-7 frame to make himself a force on both offense, by setting up teammates, and defense -- by solidifying the right-side block for the No. 3 Nittany Lions.

A setter, like a quarterback, is the leader of the offense, the shot-caller, the floor general. Both positions are the second to touch the ball but ultimately have the final say as to where the ball will head from their hands. Both positions must sometimes deal with imperfect conditions: a poor pass in volleyball, a bad snap or lousy blocking in football. Both positions also require good footwork, accuracy and a quick ball release, all of which are skills that O'Dell has fine-tuned since last season.

"He's been putting a high priority on making his feet faster, getting to the ball, making good decisions, getting the ball out of his hands quickly," Penn State coach Mark Pavlik said. "Everyone thinks setting has to do with hands, but the hands part of it is really just overhead passing. Setting is running an offense, even if sometimes you can't get to the ball to set it."

Just as a quarterback will sometimes decide to tuck the ball and run, so too will O'Dell take matters into his own hands by dumping the ball in front of unsuspecting back-row defenders.

O'Dell credits the improvement from last season to an increased familiarity with his hitters, as well as competition in practice from freshman setter Luke Murray.

"Luke is now on the team, so I have someone behind me pushing me to be better," he said. "Also, it's been more time with my hitters, so I know what they like more."

Again, like the quarterback, O'Dell benefits from knowing what the players around him like. This comes into play when the setter with dark, shaggy hair calls the plays via hand signals before the other team serves.

"We all have our strong points and we blend together pretty well," O'Dell said. "As a setter I get along with all my hitters. We're not yelling at each other, we're just one cohesive unit."

On the defensive side, O'Dell averages just under one block per game, allowing Pavlik -- a former Lion setter himself -- to rest easier, knowing that other teams attacking the left antenna will have their work cut out for them.

"Danny scores us a ton of points at the net because of his block," Pavlik said. "It doesn't give us a weak right-side blocking rotation. With him and Matt [Proper] out there on the right side, that's why we're so difficult to score on unless you're really physical."

And if the opposition is really physical, then O'Dell will be the one to set up the best way to counter, and, if need be, use his floor general role to audible.