From the day Ali Hausfeld started playing volleyball for Duke, she has been in charge.
As setter, the sophomore makes all of the Blue Devils' offensive calls, usually with minimal input from Duke's coaching staff-a privilege she earned before starting her first game as a freshman.
"We'll talk about a general game plan before we start, so she has a pretty good idea of what we think will work the best," head coach Jolene Nagel said. "But once she's out there she's on her own.... It's amazing, since she was a freshman we've been able to do that."
Hausfeld has responded to that freedom by becoming one of the best setters in the conference. Her 13.4 assists per game leads the ACC, and she is the only underclassman ranked in the top 10 in that category. Duke's offense, thanks in part to Hausfeld's setting, leads the conference in kills.
"I have good hitters," Hausfeld said of a reason for her individual success. "I feel like I can set anyone on our team. Like a lot of teams [have] a few really good hitters that they set all the time, but I feel like I can set everyone all the time. And it really just opens up opportunities for everyone else."
Her own humility aside, there are plenty of reasons for Hausfeld's, and Duke's, impressive statistics.
To start, at six feet tall, Hausfeld's height allows her to be one of the nation's most versatile players. She has registered three triple-doubles this season-Oct. 14 against Boston College, Oct. 21 against Miami and Oct. 27 against Clemson-and ranks third on the team in total blocks and first in service aces.
Statistics can describe only part of Hausfeld's on-court impact. Since she is taller than most setters, she can be more aggressive on offense, tipping the ball over the net to score kills of her own.
"It opens up your hitters a lot more if the block has to worry about you dumping," Hausfeld said. "It gives them more opportunities."
Hausfeld's major strength, however, is her passing. She is a smart player, teammates said, and makes good decisions with her set selection.
"She knows what she's doing when she's choosing which hitter to set," said middle blocker Carrie DeMange, who has played with Hausfeld since the two attended Archbishop Alter High School in Ohio.
Her impressive set selection is not an accident or merely due to instincts. In addition to the work Hausfeld has done to get comfortable with her own hitters, the setter's drive and desire to win leads her to study other team's defensive tendencies, Nagel said.
"She wants to win, which you need from a leader," libero Jenny Shull said.
Shull, who is also Hausfeld's roommate, added that the two spend a lot of time talking about how they can improve the team.
"The will, the desire, the determination, the effort-she's a great leader," Shull said.
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