When Rutgers-Newark upset the men's volleyball team in the finals of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament last April, the Lions were knocked from their pedestal -- temporarily.

The scores from that game were 15-10, 8-15, 15-11, 13-15 and 16-17. The heartbreaking fifth-game loss gave Rutgers an automatic berth to the NCAA Final Four and ended Penn State's season.

"We learned from that loss," assistant coach Mark Pavlik said. "If we get into the Eastern finals again, that loss will be in the back of our minds. We must make sure we are as ready as we can be."

Penn State started this season determined to regain its status in the East.

"We are perceived as the flagship of Eastern volleyball," Pavlik said. "It is our responsibility to live up to that."

Penn State belongs to the Big Five division of the EIVA, which consists of the Lions, Rutgers-Newark, George Mason, Navy and East Stroudsburg. There are other divisions of the EIVA; such as the New England Conference, the Metro Conference (schools from New York) and the Middle Atlantic Conference.

And so far this season, Penn State has been undaunted by EIVA challengers, and once again is considered the favorite in this year's EIVA finals, scheduled for April 26-27. The team sports a 2-0 regular-season record thus far in the EIVA, but is a perfect 6-0 against EIVA competitors since the beginning of the season.

The Lions have already defeated George Mason three times, Navy twice and Rutgers once.

In the regular season, which is just underway, Penn State must face Rutgers-Newark twice, East Stroudsburg twice, and has one more contest each with George Mason and Navy.

All four of these schools are capable of playing one good match, Pavlik said.

"We like to think we are ahead of those schools," he said. "But we are not ahead by that much."

In regular-season play, the Lions swept George Mason on Feb. 19 in Fairfax, Va., 15-6, 15-2 and 15-11. The next night, Penn State faced a stiff challenge from Navy in Annapolis, Md. They lost the first two games but prevailed in the match: 12-15, 5-15, 15-8, 15-3 and 15-11.

Earlier in the season, Penn State swept Rutgers in pool play of the Nittany Lion Invitational on Feb. 1. In the semifinals of the same tourney, Penn State defeated George Mason in four games. The Lions went on to capture the tournament crown by disposing of No. 13 Ball State.

In the semifinals of the Dutch Country Classic on Feb. 8, Penn State continued its winning ways, disposing of George Mason yet again in four games. That victory set up Penn State's sweep of UCLA in the tournament finals. Navy was swept on Feb. 17 in the semifinals of a tournament eventually won by Canadian powerhouse Manitoba.

Penn State has earned its status from years of dominating play, and has solidified its status by its current level of play.

"Penn State lends itself to excellence," Pavlik said. "(However,) just because we have Penn State on our backs, that doesn't mean a win. We have got to be very careful that we don't just step onto the court and expect to win."

Pavlik added that Eastern schools view Penn State as Penn State views West Coast teams.

"They gear their season to be at a level to challenge us," he said.

This preliminary success against the EIVA is not an indication of what Penn State has yet to face in the regular season or in the post-season tournament.

The intensity level of all schools is hiked a notch come tournament time. The level of play and concentration is picked up and the team's focus is changed.

"You have to do well in the season to be put in good position for the postseason," Pavlik said. "(And when the postseason arrives) you have to go out and do it again."

The winner of the EIVA Championships in Newark, N.J. receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Final Four to be held May 3-4 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

"The EIVA teams are going to have to play awfully hard to beat us," Pavlik said.

Penn State has its third regular-season EIVA tilt tonight against East Stroudsburg.