Coaches in all competitive sports emphasize controlling pace and tempo of the game. The team that controls the pace of the game usually comes out victorious.

And in every sport, there's a certain position that has the biggest impact in setting the pace of the contest. Whether it be the quarterback in football, point guard in basketball or the setter in volleyball, every great team needs to have a capable pacesetter if it hopes to make it to the next level.

This year, the Penn State men's volleyball team (2-4, 2-0 EIVA) has the luxury of having two.

"It's a two-quarterback system," head coach Mark Pavlik said. "[The setter] position has responsibility and leadership."

The team has two viable options this season at the setter spot. At first glance, it would seem fairly apparent who the main guy for the position would be.

Senior Dan O'Dell has had the setter position locked down for the last two years for the Nittany Lions, garnering first-team All-EIVA awards for his sophomore and junior seasons.

He even came into this season ranked fourth on the all-time assists list with 4,066. His passing mixed with his blocking makes O'Dell such a force.

"If we're facing a team that can bomb away on the outside, and you need someone at the net, Danny's going to go in and we're going get some points out of his blocking," Pavlik said. "It's a real key for us."

Having a setter like O'Dell, one would think that there would be no competition at that position. Enter Luke Murray.

Murray is only a sophomore, but has already garnered the confidence and respect from teammates and coaches with his quickness and overall ability. He's seen action in 14 games this season, and averages 9.36 assists per game.

To put things in perspective, in 20 games, O'Dell has an average of 7.05 assists a game. It's that quickness that makes Murray so dangerous.

"If we're facing a team that serves tough, and passes are being sprayed around, we have the option of throwing Luke in there, who's a little bit quicker," Pavlik said. "His location on the move is better than Danny's."

The two players' varying styles make the battle for starting time even more competitive.

"Well, I'm bigger so it's easier for me blocking," O'Dell said.

"When we're passing well, when we're in a groove, that's my style. Luke's more scrappy. He can put up a ball from anywhere on the court and make any pass."

Since both players are good enough to start, playing well at practice becomes even more important.

"There's always a competition everyday in practice," Murray said. "The coaches are keeping track of who's performing"

It may seem like a challenge for the coaching staff to balance playing time between both of their first-rate setters. It's a challenge, though, that the staff will take any day.

"I think anytime you have guys whose strengths can complement, you find ways to use them," Pavlik said. "You kind of hope at some point the strengths of one kind of reach over to the other and Danny gets better on the move and Luke can become a better blocker on the outside."

Both players have seen considerable time this season, and both know exactly what's expected from them. The team will need both players to excel if it hopes to move back up the rankings.

"They've been in every match so far, and they know that whatever's needed, the other one's there to do it," Pavlik said. "I have good faith in both of them."

You'd think it would be nerve-racking, knowing that if you make one too many mistakes, there's a great player behind you waiting to take your spot.

Not so much.

"There's not so much pressure, it's just whoever's out there has got to perform," O'Dell said. "You just got to get the job done when you're out there."

Both players have been getting the job done thus far.