Jan. 20, 2016
By Jack Milewski, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Every sports season is a grind. It is no easy feat to play 30-plus games, while practicing and training when you're not playing, not to mention there is the added pressure of classes for collegiate athletes.
Everything about each season encompasses this grind. When you play at a high level, nothing comes easy. Hard work is necessary and vital for a team's success.
For the Penn State men's volleyball team, this blue-collar style of preparation and competition is nothing new. In fact, the entire 2016 team quite literally embodies what the grind is and what it means to be grinders.
The loss of key pieces from last year's team has been well documented. Aaron Russell was one of the most dominant players in the nation and Connor Curry and Nick Goodell were key components of a very strong starting six. However, despite the pieces that they lost, Penn State is off to a solid 2-2 start with wins over USC and Lewis. Coach Mark Pavlik is very pleased with the start and believes that once again, he has a special team here in Happy Valley.
"I think this team is going to be a crowd pleaser," said Pavlik. "They have a work ethic and an energy that I think is fun to watch for everyone who does."
Last year's team had the same energy, led by the emotional and physical leader Russell. Though this team might not have same star power, it embodies the same intensity that the teams before have forged.
"I think that it is something inherent that has developed over a long period of time," said Pavlik. "Each year there are new personalities added to it and they either add to that dynamic, or dampen it and to me it seems that this year's team really enhances that work ethic."
That work ethic was on display against Lewis as Penn State outlasted the Flyers in a five-set thriller. The match was back and forth, but the Nittany Lions never conceded.
"We never stopped playing," said Pavlik. "We were down 17-11 in game two and I was thinking that it may be a short night and then all of a sudden we hit stride. I don't want to say we flipped a switch because that wasn't it, we just grinded it out through all five sets."
There are obviously adjustments to be made in refining the game of the Nittany Lion players, but the work ethic and grinding mentality that Penn State has displayed so far this season can't necessarily be taught, more so, they can just be absorbed. This was evident during Saturday's match when Royce Clemens committed three straight over passes to close the fifth set.
"When Royce walked back into the huddle after that, the look on his face wasn't one of fear," said Pavlik. "It was a real competitive response and he just wanted to get back out there and get another opportunity."
Though grinding is at the forefront of Penn State's success, Pavlik thinks that that doesn't necessarily characterize this team's personality. Instead he feels like the process will take time and eventually reveal itself later down the road.
"I think you'll see this team's personality in about a month or so," said Pavlik. "They are still gelling right now; they have been through four tough matches and I love the way they have stuck together."
With Penn State hosting the national semifinals and finals this year, there will be a buzz around Pennsylvania all season in regards to men's volleyball. Pavlik thinks that this team's "crowd pleasing" mentality will aid the buzz even more.
"I think that the general sensibility of everyone in Central Pennsylvania is to work hard, enjoy what you're doing, enjoy who you're doing it with and let's see what happens," said Pavlik. "I think people get behind that. You don't need to strut around, again the general sense of central Pennsylvania is do your job and get it done and be happy with that."
Penn State will look to get the job done once again this coming Friday as they host 14th-ranked Ball State. First serve is set for just after 7 p.m. at Rec Hall.