While Bruce Parkhill, coach of the men's basketball team, has been ridiculed by some for his lackluster 1991-92 schedule, there can be nothing but praise for Tom Peterson's men's volleyball schedule.

With seven home dates, including five games against nationally-ranked opponents, the Nittany Lions boast one of the nation's toughest schedules. No. 11 Penn State (3-5) kicks off its impressive 1992 Rec Hall campaign against eighth-ranked Cal-State Northridge tonight at 7:30.

Northridge, which opened its season last night at George Mason, is in the midst of a four game East Coast swing. Penn State, on ther other hand, is returning from a disappointing 1-2 Midwestern road trip.

"We have a lot to work on," Peterson said, "and Northridge is a very talented team. We expect a tough match."

Much of the disappointment from the recent road trip centered on the team's poor passing and serving.

"If we don't play better (than on a road trip) we are going to get beat," Peterson explained. "With our schedule, who knows what our record will be. We are always playing top twenty teams."

In 1991, Northridge compiled a 22-7 ledger which included 11 victories in the highly-touted Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Despite finishing a game behind UCLA in the regular season, a postseason surge earned the Matadors a third-place ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll.

However, this year's Northridge squad is plagued with several question marks. Hard hit by graduation, the Matadors lost All-America selection Neil Coffman, Honorable Mention All-American Rapheal Tulino, and talented passer Mark Root. As the starting setter on last year's squad, Coffman finished the season with 655 kills and 655 digs in 102 games.

"I was not sure what to expect going into practice," Northridge Coach John Price said. "I have been pretty happy so far. I fell like we are going to be competitve and I think we can be better than last year. We are young, but I do not think that will be a factor."

In the absence of Coffman, the reins belong to All-America selection Coley Kyman. In 1991, the senior ranked 14 nationally in hitting percentage and 11 in kills per game. Outside hitter Ken Lynch, a returning starter from last year's squad, also provides strength on offense.

"Kyman, Unger and Lynch have all been with us for three years," Price said. "They have a lot of experience and I am hoping that they will help the other positions along."

Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Matadors is the 6-foot-8-inch German swing-hitter Axel Hagar. A veteran of the German Army, Hagar could make an immediate impact on the starting lineup.

"He looks better than he did on tape," Price said. "He is a very complete player and a big reason that we are going to be competitve this season."

-- With both Penn State and Northridge competing in the Hall of Fame Classic in Holyoke, Mass., on Friday, the Lions and the Matadors could meet again. In the semifinals of the tournament, Northridge faces Manitoba while Penn State meets Springfield. The two winners play in the championship match while the losers face one another in the conolation match.

-- Penn State's 1-2 roadtrip, combined with its fourth-place finish in the Nittany Lion Invitational, dropped the Lions to eleventh in Coaches Poll. Long Beach State (2-0), recieved 10 first-place votes to capture top honors. Pepperdine, UCLA, Stanford and Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne rounded out the top five.