Sept. 25, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Six members of the 2007-2008 Penn State men's volleyball team enjoyed success on the international front this summer, competing within their respective national volleyball pipelines.
Juniors Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) and Max Holt (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomores Will Price (Laytonsville, Md.) and Max Lipsitz (Williamsville, N.Y.) were four starters for the United States Junior National Team that finished seventh at the Junior World Championship in Casablanca and Rabat, Morocco. In addition, incoming freshmen Edgardo Gonzalez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Dennis Del Valle (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico) competed for Puerto Rico at the Youth World Championship in Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico, finishing 11th.
A 6-10 outside hitter who was named an AVCA Second Team All-America selection last season, Anderson played in 27 games for the U.S. at the Junior World Championship. He recorded 91 total points for an average of 3.37 points per game and racked up 77 kills (2.85 kpg), adding four aces, 10 blocks and 32 digs. Anderson was also a member of the 2006 United States Junior National Team that placed second at the NORCECA Zone Championship in Monterrey, Mexico.
Holt, a 6-9 middle hitter, also played in 27 games and led the team in service aces with nine. A First Team All-East honoree in 2007, he scored 56 points, including 42 kills for an average of 1.55 kills per game on .400 hitting and added in five blocks and six digs. Holt joined Anderson on the 2006 United States Youth National Team at the NORCECA Zone Championship in Mexico last summer and was named the Best Blocker of the tournament.
A transfer from George Mason, Price will sit out for the 2008 season, but his experience will be felt in the gym. A 6-5 opposite and 2007 First Team All-East selection for the Patriots, Price was the leading scorer for the United States at the World Championship with 129 points, an average of 4.78 points per game. He averaged 4.29 kills per game on a .369 attack percentage and also added in seven aces, six blocks and 30 digs.
In his first international competition, Lipsitz, a 6-7 middle hitter and 2007 First Team All-East honoree, played in 23 games and led the team in blocks (14) and blocks per game (0.61 bpg). He also produced a team-high 61% kill efficiency, recording 41 kills on .433 hitting, good for 1.78 kills per game, and averaged 2.48 points per game with two aces and three digs.
Gonzalez joins the Nittany Lion squad with a wealth of international experience. A 6-5 setter, the freshman was the team captain for the Puerto Rican Youth National Team at the World Championship this summer. He recorded nine blocks in the match against Cuba, a Puerto Rican international competition record for boys or men.
Del Valle comes to Penn State with multiple honors in international competition. A 5-8 libero, Del Valle was named the Best Receiver of the 2007 Youth World Championship in Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico and picked up Best Digger honors at the 2006 NORCECA Men's Junior Championship in Monterrey, Mexico. Del Valle also made history at the 2006 NORCECA Boy's Youth Championship, picking up the Triple Crown of defensive awards. He became the first men's player and only the second player ever in NORCECA history to be named the Best Digger, Best Receiver and Best Libero, as the squad finished first in the tournament.
Penn State kicks off the 2008 slate at the Hawaii Outrigger Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii on Jan. 3-5 against the host Warriors, UCLA and Ball State. The Nittany Lions will also host Southern California for two exhibition matches on Friday, Oct. 26 (1:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.) at Rec Hall, with the 5:30 p.m. match taking place prior to the pep rally for the Penn State-Ohio State football game on Saturday, Oct. 27.
For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.