Lincoln Pius X's Lauren Cook and Papillion-La Vista's Gina Mancuso physically led on the volleyball court the way you'd expect from three-time, first-team Super-Staters.

Whether it was the 6-foot Mancuso blasting kills from her outside hitter spot or the 5-8 Cook running the offense with her high-level setting, their performances were major factors in both teams successfully defending their state titles this fall. It's also why they've attracted national attention in being named high school All-Americans and invited to play in the Under Armour All-American High School Volleyball Match on Dec. 21 at the Omaha Qwest Center.

Cook and Mancuso, the honorary co-captains of the 2008 Super-State team, could not depend solely on their talent to fulfill their leadership roles. In the past, when their teammates were older than they were, they could let their production on the court speak for itself, leaving the verbal management of the squad to the seniors.

This season as seniors, however, Mancuso and Cook could no longer pass on that task to others. They not only had to walk the walk, they had to talk the talk as well.

For Mancuso, she shared that duty with fellow Super-State setter Chelsey Feekin, who tended to be more fiery in dealing with her teammates. But while Mancuso was more reserved in her approach, she was not afraid to speak up this season if she felt it was necessary.

"When I was younger, I kept my mouth shut and led through example," said Mancuso, a Nebraska recruit. "Now that I'm older, I try to make sure I say something after every play, either congratulating someone for a good play or encouraging someone if they need it. I'm not scared to tell people what to do if they're doing something wrong."

Papillion-La Vista coach JJ Toczek says Mancuso's experiences as a multisport athlete gives her a keen sense into what kind of leadership is needed in certain situations. Mancuso is also a four-year starter in basketball and a qualifier for the state meet in track.

"Gina knows how to play the role that's most needed by the particular team she's on," said Toczek, whose Monarchs won their second straight Class A title with a 41-1 record and a No. 6 national ranking by PrepVolleyball.com.

"She's not a bark-in-your-face kind of leader, but she's learned to speak up if something needs to be said," Toczek added. "Gina totally leads by example, that's the way she's always been. She's very focused and very driven, and that rubs off on the other kids."

In her first three years as a Thunderbolt, Cook had to delicately balance her responsibilities to direct the team as a setter but still allow the older players to exert leadership as they saw fit. This was first time in her career, either in high school or club, where Cook's teammates were either the same age or younger than she was.

"This year, I was in control, I could say what I wanted," Cook said.

But with that power came responsibility. The UCLA recruit had to accept being held to a higher standard in practice by coach Jake Moore, which meant sometimes being made an example in front of the rest of the team. In the end, however, that increased her stature among the younger players.

"It's a really special feeling that freshmen and sophomore girls look up to you, and you always have to make sure you're saying the right things and setting a good example for them," Cook said.

While Cook's setting helped a new group of attackers settle in on the court this season, Moore said her personality helped provide the chemistry necessary to go 38-2 this season.

"Lauren engages you," Moore said. "If you're talking to her, she's paying total attention to what you're saying. She makes everyone on the team feel important, and that's how she got people to play for her."

Like Mancuso, Cook had to share her leadership role with another senior Super-Stater, Natalie Braun. Moore said there were occasions during a water break in practice when Cook and Braun would ask for an extra few minutes to talk to the team without the coaches present.

"Those two were so positive in the way they led," Moore said. "It wasn't, 'We're doing this wrong and that wrong,' it was more, 'We have to do this better.'"

Reach Ron Powell at 473-7437 or rpowell@journalstar.com.