Tyler Russell and Dak Prescott are not the only two Bulldogs to split time at the quarterback position this season. Suzanne Horner and Katlyn Mataya share time at the setter position for the Mississippi State University volleyball team.
In volleyball, the setter is considered the quarterback of the team. The setter touches the ball on the second of the three hits on every play (unless she cannot get to the ball).
Similar to the football team, the volleyball team decided to run a two-setter formation about halfway through the season. Only three other SEC teams (Georgia, Auburn and Arkansas) run this 6-2 formation. The other teams run a traditional 5-1 set with just one setter playing the entire match.
MSU head coach Jenny Hazelwood said the 6-2 has provided more offensive options for her team because with the setter always on the back row, three hitters are always on the front row rather than having a setter on the front row half of the time.
“For us, running a 6-2 has been really helpful,” Hazelwood said. “We were having trouble getting offensive production. When our setter was front row, teams were able to key in blocking wise on our few front row hitters, so it was causing problems for us from an offensive standpoint. So we just said ‘Hey, we’ve got two great setters, and we have some more hitters stepping it up in practice, so we can go to a 6-2 and have more attackers involved,’ and it’s worked.”
After losing its first four SEC games, MSU inserted sophomore Alaska-Fairbanks transfer Mataya into the rotation in addition to freshman State College, Penn., native Horner. The result? The Dogs won their following two matches in straight sets.
In the volleyball two-quarterback system, Horner plays the role of Russell, keeping the team focused with a calm demeanor, while the quicker Mataya brings a Prescott-like energy to the court.
Horner said State’s 6-2 is unique because she and Mataya are so different.
“She (Mataya) is quick, energetic and tricky,” Horner said. “She is small and really energetic and, and I mean I’m energetic, but I’m more focused, and we’re just such a different dynamic, and together it’s a nice combo.”
Although the Dogs fell to Texas A&M last Friday night, Mataya recorded 16 set assists, while Horner finished with 15 assists. The girls said they set the same hitters in practice as they do in games, and Mataya said she and Horner talk through things when they sub out and during timeouts. 
“In a sense, that’s a really good pro coming off (the court) because you can step outside the game, and you can look and have a chance to talk to coaches. It’s nice getting a different point of view,” Mataya said. “It’s so nice because we just support each other — there’s no hatred because we’re splitting time; we love each other. She makes me feel really calm. We’re definitely the best setter team in the SEC.”
Horner, who played both a 5-1 and 6-2 in high school, said playing with two setters has both pros and cons.
“It’s hard because you’re still focused into it, but you’re not warm because you’re standing there, but it’s fun because when Katlyn comes on, she brings a new energy,” Horner said. “We’re always helping each other like, ‘Hey, you need to push that set out’ or ‘That was a really bad decision.’ It’s nice because not all the pressure’s on one person. You can share that responsibility.”
Just as Russell and Prescott have accepted the two-quarterback system and work together to accomplish the best for MSU, Horner and Mataya have accepted their roles. Mataya describes Horner as “cool, calm and collected” and said she looks to Horner while she’s on the court. 
Hazelwood said the girls are funny together and challenge each other in every aspect of the game.
“They definitely try to push each other. In practice, there’s a lot of competition, even when they’re on the other side of the net,” she said. “They really compete, and that’s super important in any position, and they do a really good job of that.”
Horner and Mataya will lead the volleyball Dogs in their final matches, including home games against No. 17 Kentucky Friday night at 7 p.m. and Georgia Sunday at 1:30 p.m.