Last year's top spikers meet for tourney in Ill.

By BRIAN EPSTEIN
Collegian Sports Writer

When three of the four volleyball teams that advanced to the NCAA Final Four last year agreed to participate in the EIVA/MIVA Challenge this weekend, Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., figured to host some of the nation's elite teams.

But for one reason or another, some of the luster from last year has disappeared.

The No. 7 Lions (4-2) are struggling to find their team identity. No. 14 Ball State (6-2), which Volleyball Magazine ranked No. 6 in the preseason and said "shouldn't be challenged in the Midwest," is only third in its conference. And Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne (5-5), despite being in a tie with Lewis for the conference lead, is unranked.

Penn State, however, is on an upnote heading into its weekend competition, which starts at 9:30 p.m. today against Lewis. The Lions have won four of their last five matches, including two exhibitions, and are 3-0 against Midwest teams this year.

Lewis, which is only in its second year as a varsity program, has been a surprise this year. The high-octane Flyers return nine players from the nation's fourth-highest hitting team last year. The Flyers are led by junior middle blocker Chris Borden and sophomore middle blocker Sean Sultan.

Penn State will face IPFW at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow for the second time this season -- the Lions swept the Volleydons in four games at home on Feb. 3.

But the most anticipated match of the weekend may be against Ball State at 9:30 p.m. tomorrow -- a rematch of last year's NCAA semifinals. Each team has lost key starters, but Ball State Coach Don Shondell said his team should be at an advantage.

"It's hard for them to replace a guy like (outside hitter) Ramon Hernandez," he said. "We feel like we only lost average players, so we feel like we could have been the favorite in this match. Unfortunately, the way the season has gone for us so far, that won't be the case."

The Cardinals return four starters from last year, led by senior opposite Todd Reimer, a preseason Volleyball Magazine All-American. Reimer battled a case of the flu early in the season and his play has suffered.

"There were a couple of matches when I shouldn't have played but did," Reimer said. "That really hurt us."

Although Reimer has completely recovered, the team is still without the services of 6-foot-5 Jason Fehr. The Canadian has struggled in his core classes and is academically ineligible to compete.

Regardless of records or opponents, Lion Coach Mark Pavlik wants his team to maintain a consistent level of play.

"If you look at our schedule, a lot of our matches are going to be Friday and Saturday night," he said. "No matter who we play, we need to go out and play well Friday night and then come out just as strong Saturday night. We haven't been able to do that yet."