With the 2021 men's volleyball season approaching, it's time for Nittany Lion fans to learn a little bit more about the new faces on the team. This is part five of our eight-part Q&A series with the 2021 freshman class.
Let's meet Connecticut native and middle blocker Ian Argento!
Ian Argento
Position: Middle blocker
Hometown: Seymour, Conn.
High School: Saint Joseph High School
Club: Mizuno East Volleyball Club
Ian's full bio
Why Penn State?
I chose Penn State because I think it is the best place to meet my athletic and academic potential. Coach Pav has coached a fantastic team that is consistently top in the EIVA conference and has gone on to win national championships. The school has a fantastic academic program with a lot of funding and research.
What is your major?
I am studying biochemistry and molecular biology. I might get a history minor along that road. I want to go on a pre-med track and become a doctor. I am thinking a surgeon but I am not quite sure yet.
What are your strengths as a player?
I am tall. I am 6-foot-9 which definitely helps in volleyball. I am good at hitting, I'm good at reading blocks. I am really excited to hopefully make a difference at practice and maybe playing some games on the front line as a middle blocker.
What is your biggest volleyball accomplishment?
My proudest volleyball moment was last summer. I was playing in this summer program where they get a lot of top volleyball players from the country and they bring us to this gym in Florida. They rank the teams, I was on one of the lower-seeded teams in that group. Then they had us play each other and all these teams from even around the world. My team was kind of a lower-ranked seed but we were expected to play the Canadian junior national team. Because we were the lower ranked team and because the Canadian junior national team is so good, no one thought anything of us. We came in with a nothing to lose the attitude, went as hard as we could, really bonded as a team, and we pulled out the win in four sets. It was a really exciting win for the underdogs.
Did you know…Ian was selected to the A1 Division of USA Volleyball High Performance team in 2019 with current Nittany Lion teammate, Michael Valenzi. He is also enrolled in the Penn State Schreyer Honors College.
