Middle blocker Ramon Hernandez of the men's volleyball team was voted to Volleyball Monthly's All-Freshman team last year.

Penn State Coach Tom Peterson anticipates even better things this year.

"He might be All-American this year," Peterson said. "I'm guessing he will be. He's going to be our nomination, I'm pretty sure. One of them anyway. He's just been playing great and getting better.

"Offensively he's a great player, we can all work on our blocking, but offensively, he's one of the best in the country."

The multi-talented Hernandez has been a mainstay at his position throughout the entirety of the 1992 season. Despite a Lion team with a lot of depth - last night saw three different players at an outside hitter position - Hernandez has played nearly every minute of every game.

Those games have produced some good results. After being named MVP of the Springfield Classic in February, Hernandez has been a major factor in the team's improvement to a winning record.

"I've had five or six great matches," Hernandez said. "Last night, I started strong at first, then I started to feel tired in the second and third games. But in all, I think I am doing a great job."

Hernandez's most obvious contribution has shown itself in the stat sheets -- his .308 hitting percentage and 19 kills last night added to a season when he has consistently hit above the .300 mark.

The block column has also lit up beside his name -- and last night was no exception as he was second on the team with seven total blocks.

So last night saw him as second in the team in blocks, second in kills -- and second in digs. But it hardly ends there. His season-long consistency in passing and the emergence of his powerful jump serve make him an asset in every last inch of the court, a trait that middle blockers are not always known for.

"He does it all," Peterson said. "He's got a pass for us and not very many, if any, middle blockers for the teams we play have that. Usually you have your outsides and your opposites do all the passing and in our system, we have to have our middle help out."

Four to five days a week in the weight room have paid off for the sophomore from Puerto Rico. He credits hard work to an increase in strength and performance.

"I'm feeling pretty good, I'm working very hard -- practice, lifting. I'm happy with my job so far," he said.