Despite dropping six of seven games to the top two teams in the nation in a four-day period, the No. 4 men's volleyball team is not worried.

"It's good for this to happen to us now so it can open our eyes," said middle blocker Ivan Contreras, "and we can make sure it doesn't happen in May (at the NCAA Championships)."

First came a three-game sweep last Wednesday at the hands of No. 1 UCLA in the national championship rematch.

What followed was another loss to a West Coast powerhouse on Saturday -- to No. 2 Stanford. That four-game defeat further fouled the young season for the defending national champions two days after sandwiching a victory over Loyola Maramount.

But after a difficult road trip, the Lions (1-2) returned home late Sunday night with a sense of hope.

Contreras is not the only one who can find a sense of purpose in the frenetic scheduling early in the season. Coach Mark Pavlik expressed similar views during the preseason.

But what is disturbing Pavlik most was his team's play during stretches of Saturday's match against Stanford.

After taking the first game 15-11, the Lions had a 14-10 lead in game two and were within arm's reach of taking control of the match. But Cardinal outside hitter Mike Lambert (37 kills, nine digs and three aces) helped spark a Stanford comeback, and Stanford saved six game points to win the game, 16-14.

The third and fourth games brought more of the same. Penn State led 10-7 and 10-6, respectively, before Stanford sophomore outside hitter Matt Fuerbringer lit up the court. Fuerbringer hit .875 with 14 of his 27 kills over the last game and a half to give Stanford a 11-15, 16-14, 15-11, 15-12 victory.

The Lions led 9-3 in game one against UCLA before giving up 12 unanswered points. They also stayed close in both the second and third games before the Bruins pulled away late.

"We've got to get rid of those bad streaks," Pavlik said. "We've got to play for the full 45 points we need to score (to win)."

The remaining schedule becomes moderately easier for the Lions as they play their next five matches at home. After taking on Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne Friday, the Lions meet Wisconsin at Milwaukee and Ohio State on Saturday. Canada's University of Manitoba invades Rec Hall for a two-match exhibition series the following weekend.

Note:

-- After being stuffed by UCLA, Contreras (nine kills and seven errors) ripped apart Loyola Maramount last Thursday with a match-high 34 kills and an impressive .625 hitting percentage.

"(Ivan) put on a clinic," Pavlik said yesterday morning. "He just out-physicaled them."