The men's volleyball team battled one of their toughest opponents Saturday. It battled with the past.

The 1989 squad squared off with members of past Penn State squads in the Annual Alumni Game before a near-capacity crowd in Rec Hall's South Gym. This year's squad defeated the old-timers, 15-5, 15-13, 15-5, 12-15, 15-7, in five intense and competitive games.

Coach Tom Tait and his veterans warned the younger players it would not be an easy day. One year the players did not take the alumni seriously, and the alumni won.

"The varsity didn't understand who the alumni were," Tait said. "They thought they were a bunch of fat old men who used to play volleyball. They didn't understand that these were the guys who built the program. They had a sort of ho-hum attitude, and they got their clocks cleaned."

"They'll beat you if you don't take them seriously," agreed Robert Pierce, a senior outside hitter. "They're coming here, they're making jokes throughout the match, but they came here to play ball. Every little chance they have to play they're going to come after you. That's the way you have to accept it."

The first game was close, 4-3, until the young Lions, led by three-time All American Chris Chase and right side hitter Guillo Silva, whipped off seven straight points. The Lions allowed only two more points as they went on to win, 15-5.

The 1989 squad shot out to an 8-0 lead in the second game before the old Lions shook the rust off. The alumni spiked and blocked to within two points, 9-7, and then took the lead, 12-11. The 1989 squad knotted the score at 12-12, and fought back to take a 15-13 decision.

Although the score does not indicate it, the 1989 squad fought hard for the 15-5 victory in the third game. With the score 6-1, the fans oohed and ahhed as the teams engaged in their longest rally, which finally ended when the 1989 squad regained the serve. The score reached 9-5, but the young Lions reeled off six straight points to end the game, 15-5.

The last two games involved players from the 1988 team versus the 1989 team, and it proved just how equal they were. The 1988 squad scored the first four points and shot out to a 10-3 lead. The 1989 squad fought back to within a one-point deficit at 11-10, but it was to no avail as the 1988's held off the 1989's, 15-12.

In the last game, the alumni continued to give the 1989 squad problems as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead. But the 1989 team fought back to lead, 9-7, and never looked back as they won, 15-7.

"Every year it's fun to come back," said Mark Pavlik, a 1982 graduate and the assistant coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. "It's a great atmosphere to come back to. It's one way you can come back and realize you're still a part of it."

Current player Silva gave credit to the players from years past.

"They're great," Silva said. "It brings back a lot of memories from last year. They played a great defense. They played a long time ago, and they still go at it hard."

Pierce said he has learned a lot in the alumni games.

"Their knowledge of the game far exceeds ours," the senior said. "What they lack in shapeness or maybe athletic ability they have in smarts . . . we learn a lot because they show us different shots and different game techniques. I look forward to this as being the start of the home season."