UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's volleyball team is proud to introduce its incoming freshman class during for the 2020-21 school year. The group includes seven student-athletes from six different states plus one from Poland.
The group joins a roster with 13 returning players from the 2020 season, which went undefeated in EIVA conference play (7-0) and was ranked 10th in the AVCA Coaches poll before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mitch Tucker
Hometown: Fairport, N.Y.
Height: 6-6
Position: Outside Hitter
BEFORE PENN STATE
Named team captain of the Fairport High School boys' volleyball team for senior season in 2019…Chosen to Section V Class A Boys Volleyball all-tournament team in 2019…Helped Red Raiders to 2018 Division I New York state championship after an undefeated season (22-0).
PERSONAL
Full name is Mitchell Ryan Tucker…Parents are Michelle and Scott Tucker…Has one brother, Evan, and one sister, Abby…Intends to major in security and risk analysis…Born October 25, 2001 in Fairport, N.Y.
COACH PAVLIK ON MITCH
"Mitch is another Western New York product who plays the game well and will bring a good arm into our gym."
Luke Snyder
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Height: 6-3
Position: Setter
BEFORE PENN STATE
Awarded three varsity letters as a setter for Mira Costa High School…Helped Mustangs to a runner-up finish at the 2019 SoCal CIF Regional…Senior season in 2020 canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic…Won 2019 Boys Junior National Championship with Southern California Volleyball Club (SCVC) in the U17 Open Division.
PERSONAL
Full name is Luke Oliver Snyder…Parents are Janiece and Richard Snyder…Has three sisters, Samantha, Lily, and Ella…Plans to enroll in the Division of Undergraduate Studies…Born January 28, 2002 in Manhattan Beach, Calif.
COACH PAVLIK ON LUKE
"Luke is a competitive setter who has great quickness and a winner's history."
Ian Argento
Hometown: Seymour, Conn.
Height: 6-9
Position: Middle Blocker
BEFORE PENN STATE
Selected to the A1 Division of USA Volleyball High Performance team in 2019 with current Nittany Lion teammate Michael Valenzi… Placed sixth with Team USA Blue at the 2019 USAV High Performance Championships…Chosen team captain senior year (2020) at Saint Joseph High School before season cancellation due to COVID-19 pandemic…Named to Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) all-conference team three times (2017-19)… Won back-to-back New England Championships with Mizuno East Volleyball Club...Selected for membership in the National Honors Society, the National English Honors Society, and the National Spanish Honors Society.
PERSONAL
Full name is Ian Adrian Argento…Parents are Vivian and Adrian Argento…Has two sisters, Ava and Simone…Enrolled in the Schreyer Honors College and intends major in biochemistry and molecular biology…Born June 12, 2002 in Seymour, Conn.
COACH PAVLIK ON IAN
"Ian is a big middle with another good arm. He has the potential to be an offensive force for us going forward."
Toby Ezeonu
Hometown: North Brunswick, N.J.
Height: 6-7
Position: Middle Blocker
BEFORE PENN STATE
Named team captain senior season (2020) for North Brunswick Township High School before season cancellation due to COVID-19 pandemic…Selected to all-conference team junior season (2019) as a middle blocker…Chosen Team MVP three times (2017-19)…Helped Raider Birds to 2017 Greater Middlesex County championship…Played club volleyball for Warren Sixpack.
PERSONAL
Full name is Tobenna Derek Ezeonu…Parents are Udenma Okafor and Walter Ezeonu…Has two brothers, Jideobi and Bryan, and one sister Tatianne…Intends to major in kinesiology…Born December 25, 2001 in North Brunswick, N.J...Named pronounced "Easy-oh-new."
COACH PAVLIK ON TOBY
"Toby is a very good jumper and has a great wingspan who we can see developing into a very physical player."
Michal Kowal
Hometown: Rzeszów, Poland
Height: 6-2
Position: Outside Hitter
BEFORE PENN STATE
Named team captain twice (2019-20) and team MVP once (2019) with AKS Resovia Rzeszów…Won two Boys' Youth Polish Volleyball championships (2016 and 2018)…Attended high school at V Liceum Ogólnokształcące.
PERSONAL
Full name is Michal Piotr Kowal…Parents are Magdalena Kowal and Andrzej Kowal…Andrezej has coached professional volleyball in Poland since 2004 and is the current head coach of Ślepsk Suwałki…Has one sister, Monika…Plans to enroll in the Division of Undergraduate Studies…Born June 29, 2001 in Rzeszów, Poland...Named pronounced "Co-vall."
COACH PAVLIK ON MICHAL
"Michal is probably the most experienced player in this group. His success playing in Poland bodes well for how soon he can contribute as a Nittany Lion."
Will Kuhns
Hometown: Greensburg, Pa.
Height: 6-3
Position: Outside Hitter
BEFORE PENN STATE
Chosen team captain and team MVP junior season (2019) as an outside hitter at Hempfield Area High School…Named second team All WPIAL twice (2018-19)…Chosen first team all section twice (2018-19) and second team all section once (2017)… Senior season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic…Played club volleyball with the Steel City Volleyball Club…Selected for membership in the National Honors Society.
PERSONAL
Full name is William James Kuhns…Parents are Kathy Wotus and Jim Kuhns…Has two sisters, Gabby and Sadie…Kathy was a volleyball player at Gannon University 1989-1992 and was elected to the school's Hall of Fame in 2011…Intends to enroll in the Division of Undergraduate Studies…Born November 12, 2001 in Greensburg, Pa.
COACH PAVLIK ON WILL
"Will is another Western PA athlete with a good spring and quick arm and he will be fun to see develop."
Michael Valenzi
Hometown: Boca Raton, Fla.
Height: 6-2
Position: Outside Hitter
BEFORE PENN STATE
Selected to the A1 Division of USA Volleyball High Performance team in 2019 with current Nittany Lion teammate Ian Argento…Won silver medal with Team USA Red at the 2019 USAV High Performance Championships…Named to USAV HP Tournament All-American Team…Chosen team captain all four years for Cardinal Gibbons High School…Helped Chiefs to undefeated state championship run at 28-0 in 2018…Selected to Miami Dade and Broward First Team All-County team three times (2017-19)…Chosen Cardinal Gibbons Player of the Year junior year (2019)…Senior season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic…Named AAU Nationals All-American twice with Ocean Bay Volleyball Club (2018-19).
PERSONAL
Full name is Michael Anthony Valenzi…Parents are Kathy and Steve Valenzi…Steve graduated from Penn State in 1985…Has one brother, Stephen, and one sister, Rachel…Intends to major in business marketing…Born April 4, 2002 in Sewickley, Pa.
COACH PAVLIK ON MICHAEL
"Michael is a skilled player with a great team personality and a heavy arm. His explosiveness and quickness will serve him well at this level."
For more information on Penn State men's volleyball, follow the Nittany Lions on Twitter @PennStateMVBALL and Instagram @pennstatemvball and "like" the Penn State men's volleyball page on Facebook.
