Poway High girls volleyball player Lauren Plum has already established herself as the CIF San Diego Section's top setter. When the Titans started this season, she also settled into her role as the team's biggest cheerleader.

Plum, who has committed to play for the University of Oregon next fall, is nursing a broken fibula in her left leg but hopes to return to action in a few weeks. Meanwhile, she has plenty of time to talk about singing, setting and keeping her sanity during rehab.

Q: How did you injure your fibula?

A: It was in the spring with my club team, and I didn't even know it was broken. I kept playing, because I thought I'd just rolled it.

Q: With your fibula injury, how long until you can start doing things on it?

A: I can do stuff on it now. I can do the elliptical (machine) and run and stuff. I can do everything except lateral (movement).

Q: When you first injured it, did you think it was going to be a big setback?

A: I had no clue. When you break your fibula, you can still walk on it. My mom's an athletic trainer, so when I got home she asked me how I did it. She said, "You need to get an X-ray," and my dad and I thought she was crazy.

Q: Did you realize how long you were going to be out?

A: Junior Olympics were coming up in, like, four weeks, so we were actually doing everything we could to see if there was a possibility we could heal it by then, which, looking back on it, was really stupid. We tried all this stuff, these herbal supplements that didn't do anything ---- it's a waste of money, don't do it. I thought I was going to be back for high school, no question. I wasn't even thinking about it.

Q: How far away are you now?

A: Two or three weeks.

Q: What's it like sitting on the sideline with the scorer's sheet in your hand?

A: It's probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do, especially at JO's when I went with the team. It's getting easier now. It's probably good that I just encourage my teammates and stuff, but what can you do?

Q: Is there anything good that comes out of this?

A: Yeah, seeing the game from a different view could definitely help my all-around game. Sometimes when you're on the court, you don't see things.

Q: What's the hardest part about setting that people wouldn't necessarily think about?

A: For me, it's the location (of the set) because I do a lot of stuff in the air. But for other people, there's so much going on that some people get overwhelmed. For me, the more pressure, the better.

Q: When did you start setting?

A: Freshman year.

Q: What's the hardest thing to learn when you're first starting out?

A: I'm a super-competitive person, and I realized that you can't treat all your players the same way. Some people need to be yelled at, some need a pat on the back.

Q: It seems like there are some extra leadership duties that come along with the position, no matter how old you are.

A: You have to lead, because you run the court. Like it or not.

Q: If you were building a perfect setter, what would the requirements be?

A: Tall, maybe left-handed, because everyone's looking for left-handed setters. You'd have really good location, be super fast to run down passes, and a great leader.

Q: What convinced you that the University of Oregon was the right place?

A: I really liked the coach, I really wanted to get out of California. They're an awesome program, their athletic facilities are amazing, and I have a chance to start freshman year if everything falls into place.

Q: A lot of setters your height become defensive players in college. How important was it to find a place where you could play setter?

A: Setting's my position ---- I love it. I don't think I would do anything else.

Lauren Plum

School: Poway

Age: 16

Year: Senior

Height: 5-foot-8 1/2

Birthdate: September 17, 1992

Birthplace: Poway

Accomplishments: All-CIF honoree and member of Team USA training team

Quick Hits

Favorite food: I don't think I could pick a favorite food

Best quality in a friend: trustworthiness

Celebrity I don't want to hear about: Shawne Merriman

Person I'd trade places with for a day: Michael Jordan

If I could play any other sport at a world-class level, it would be: football

If I played football, my position would be: safety

Secret talent: I hate saying this, but I guess I can sing.

Celebrity crush: Tom Brady