Hofstra junior Shellane Ogoshi is a small Division I setter with big responsibilities.

"Shellane is an ultimate leader. I can depend on her to play, and play well every week," Hofstra interim coach Lauren Netherby said of the 5-foot-2 2004 Roosevelt graduate. "She does defense, serving, running the offense, the whole thing."

Ogoshi earned her second straight Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week honor after leading Hofstra, located in Hempstead, N.Y., to wins over Delaware and Towson this past week. She was also named the Collegiate Volleyball Update National Player of the Week.

Ogoshi compiled 92 assists (13.14 per game), 15 digs (2.14), eight kills, five service aces and two blocks.

And those two blocks?

"It's amazing. It's the most exciting thing in my life," Ogoshi said. "It's the best thing ever. Especially if it's a tall, big-time hitter."

Undersized even if she was playing defensive specialist or libero — which she was initially recruited to play — Ogoshi has embraced her role as setter, even if it means going up against much taller players in the front row.

"She's at 5-2, maybe, and she just gives so much. We end up not noticing it anymore. She's just all around such a great player," Netherby said. "The only thing that makes it tough is the block, but she handles it pretty well, and she's a great soft blocker. She gets touches on the ball for the diggers around her to get."

Her coach's trust instilled confidence in Ogoshi.

"My coach never looked at it as a weakness," Ogoshi said. "They made me believe it, so I was never uncomfortable or uncertain or doubted my abilities in the front row. That's really changed my attitude. I feel like I let the team down, but I try to make up for it in other ways."

Last season Ogoshi was named the CAA Player and Setter of the Year and was an honorable mention AVCA All-Region selection.

It's no surprise she is being recognized for her work. She was noticed in a crowded gym by former Hofstra coach Fran Kalafer during a Junior Olympics Tournament and offered a scholarship on the spot.

Ogoshi and Netherby both tell the story the same way: that it was the end of the day and Kalafer was tired, but someone convinced her to watch just one more match, on the farthest court in the gym.

"She walked over and saw Shellane play. Fran saw her little feet moving so fast and all over the court, and she was offered a scholarship right there," Netherby said.

"I said, 'OK, I'll sign,' " Ogoshi said. "No hesitation. I didn't know where it was, after I said, 'Where is it?' "

Ogoshi was interested in schools in New York, but she had only been receiving offers for partial scholarships at Division II or NAIA schools.

"No Division I school was looking at me, and if I had the chance to play Division I, I would take it," she said of her quick decision to sign with Hofstra.

From the beginning — even when she was switched from libero to setter after the returning setter decided not to return to the team — Ogoshi took control of the team as the on-court quarterback.

Netherby calls Ogoshi, who was the CAA Rookie of the Year in 2004, the team's "communicator," who also leads in consistency and helps run things on the floor.

"My dad (Kent Ma) was a stickler about talking, and if you don't talk, you're running sprints," Ogoshi said. "And I was always a person who hates running sprints, so I would talk more than anything."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.