Gealey helps rally spikers to victory

Coach Mark Pavlik could have hit the panic button Saturday night. His No. 4 Nittany Lions were close to losing for the second time this season to a team three games under .500. Pavlik needed an answer.

He looked down his bench and the answer wasn't false or D or none of the above. The answer was a senior.

Swing hitter Dave Gealey doesn't always get the publicity and playing time like All-Americans Ivan Contreras and Jason Kepner, but he made the most of his chance.

"I thought, 'Wow, he's really going to fire us up,' " Lion middle blocker Sergio Pampena said. "He definitely picked our team up."

Penn State trailed two games to none against Rutgers-Newark and found itself down 6-2 in game three. Enter Gealey.

He came up with two crucial digs against Raider hitters Steven George and Gaston Macau that led to Lion points. George and Macau each lit up the Penn State defense in the first two games but didn't have as much success from game three on.

Gealey's service ace then cut the Raider lead to one and was part of an 11-0 Lion run. Penn State went on to win game three, 15-7, and was back in the match.

"We started out slow, and I finally got the opportunity to make something happen," Gealey said. "I tried to give a little spark and get some emotion going."

The senior continued his inspired play in game four, fueling the Penn State attack with five kills, a solo block and another service ace to tie the match at two games.

"We needed to build some momentum going into the fourth game," Gealey said.

Gealey was still a contributor in the Lions' match-clinching win in game five. His defense kept Rutgers-Newark off the board during the rally scoring format of the final game.

He finished with 10 kills on 13 attempts, led the Lions in digs with nine and added three blocks.

Pavlik said bringing a senior off the bench in that situation was exactly what Penn State needed to rally in the match.

"Dave brought emotion. I think we were emotionally empty in games one and two," Pavlik said. "I'm not surprised by what Dave Gealey can do. He's done everything we've asked of him during his career, and I'm sure that's going to continue."

Gealey said veterans are needed in order for the Lions to come from behind. He said he is comfortable with the Lions' system and playing with whatever lineup is on the floor.

"I've been around here a while so the guys know me and know how I play," Gealey said. "They know what I can contribute. I go into every match thinking I'm going to get in. I want to play in every match."

Gealey said it's important for the Lions to have more than just the team's two top hitters -- Contreras and Kepner -- supplying all the offense. It doesn't matter whether it comes from a starter or someone off the bench.

"It's real important because it keeps the other team off-guard," Gealey said. "You need someone to mix it up because Jason and Ivan get a lot of sets. (The bench) gives the team on the court the confidence that if someone is having a bad day someone else can step up."

Kepner, a fellow senior, has played with Gealey throughout their Penn State careers. He said Gealey was his usual self, which was key in the victory.

"He's always ready to come in and play defense, swing hitter or opposite," Kepner said. "He's a good all-around player and did a great job to help pick this team up. Dave brings a little more fire and humor to the court."