NEW WILMINGTON — Danielle Hogue doesn't know how it happened. She doesn't know when it happened.

She's just glad it has happened.

Things were easy for her during her senior season on the Slippery Rock High volleyball team. The Rockets were 18-0, Hogue was dominant at the net and she was named to the all-state team.

She found things much more difficult when she went toWestminster College two seasons ago.

"It was definitely tough coming out as a freshman," Hogue said. "I didn't really know anyone. I didn't know what to expect. It was hard."

But things have finally started clicking for Hogue, a 6-foot presence at middle hitter for the Titans.

She has 119 kills already this season to go with 49 blocks. Even better is the fact Westminster is 13-5 overall and 2-1 in the difficult and competitive Presidents' Athletic Conference.

Hogue got her big chance because of two big injuries.

Jessica Cooper and Hannah Parker both went down with injuries last season. Hogue, who had cracked the starting lineup at the end of her freshman season, suddenly was thrust into the lineup as a full-timer last season as a junior.

She responded by playing in every game and recording 172 kills, 83 blocks and 74 digs.

Cooper and Parker are still not back from the injuries and probably will not return.

"We have really high hopes for the season," said Westminster coach Tammy Swearingen. "Am I more concerned with the injuries? Absolutely. But we have more depth this year."

Hogue is a big part of that depth.

"This year has been much more enjoyable," Hogue said. "Coming in, I wasn't as good as I thought I should be. But things have definitely started to click for me. Now I feel like, 'Yeah, I can do this.'"

Hogue has enjoyed some big matches this season.

She had a team-leading 15 kills against Case Western Reserve and 13 kills against New Jersey City earlier in the season.

In a big win over Grove City College recently, she had nine kills and three blocks.

Hogue is finally adjusting to the speed of the college game — and the different angles she must take at the net.

"I would have to say I am definitely much faster," Hogue said. "I've concentrated on my hitting. I just play front row now. I don't play any other positions. My passing has actually gotten worse since high school, but I don't have to pass. I just hit."

Hogue also is getting that feeling back she had as a senior at SlipperyRock when her team steamrolled through the regular season.

She said that was a special team, and she said so is this one.

Her coach agrees.

"I haven't seen a team this driven in the last five years," Swearingen said.

"We're pretty confident right now," Hogue added. "We have a talented team and we feel we're ready to take the next step."