Men's volleyball alumni reached to depths of their closets Saturday in search the old uniforms that would conjure up memories of the past. Some of those playing in the annual alumni match found their uniforms more snug than they might have liked.

One participant, in coat and tie, wore his 356 collegiate coaching wins as well as he did the day he stepped down in 1988. Tom Tait, who guided the Lions to five NCAA Final-Four appearances between 1981 and 1987, came out of retirement for a day to coach the alumni squad.

Tait began coaching at Penn State in 1972 when the Lions competed as a club team. In 1977 men's volleyball became a varsity sport and four years later Tait took his first team to the Final Four. His best season came in 1982 when the Lions went 35-4, finishing second at the NCAA championships that year.

Saturday, Tait's alumni team was up against this year's squad. The Lions, ranked No. 8 nationally by Volleyball Monthly, were too much for their predecessors. Coach Tom Peterson's Lions were pushed to the limit before winning, 16-14, 11-15, 16-14, 15-9, 12-15.

Despite the setback, Tait and his former players enjoyed the experience.

"It's neat, it's a great feeling to see all the old players," Tait said. "When you see them on the court doing some of the things that you became familiar with when they were here it brings back a lot of old memories."

"It's quite an honor," 1981 graduate Mike Gordon said. "Coach Tait is recognized as one the better volleyball coaches in the nation. It's a lot more fun probably just to see him than to play for him, we all have a good time together."

Mark Pavlik, now a Penn State assistant coach, played for Tait from 1979-82.

"The tradition in this group is just so strong," Pavlik said. "There is just a real common bond amongst all of us. Coach Tait was the one, when you talk about the common bond, I guess you could say that he was the guy who really pushed it."

Tait is now an associate professor in the College of Health and Human Development where he directs the Exercise and Sport Science option. Tait believes he got out of coaching at the right time.

"You always miss the association with the players and the coaches that you run into throughout the year," Tait said. "But it was time to make the move, so I don't regret making the move. There are certainly aspects of coaching that you just never get out of your blood and I'm sure I never will. But you have to move on and do some other things."

Despite retiring as a head coach, Tait is still active in volleyball. Soon he will be meeting with the current U.S. national team coach and several other top volleyball officials.

"We're going to brainstorm some ideas about where the national program is going to be going in the next few year," Tait said. "We'll take a look at some of the procedures and policies that we've had, in effect over last two quadrennium, to see if we want to make a change to try to maintain the No. 1 level that we've had in the world over the past eight years."

This year's Penn State team consists of several players Tait recruited.

"I think the potential is there to be an outstanding team," Tait said. "They've got some good depth and some quality athletes at each position. I think they should have an outstanding season, I'm looking forward to watching them."

Tait won't have long to wait as next weekend the Lions host the eight- team Mizuno Nittany Lion Invitational in their first competition of the season.

"From Coach Tait probably the biggest thing I got was preparation," Pavlik said. "Pay attention to details and be prepared."

Pavlik and Peterson will prepare their team this week.