Spikers hope to break down rebuilding teams

It's beginning to be a theme for Penn State men's volleyball opponents. Their objectives are to keep up with the often dominant Nittany Lions.

- Uvaldo Acosta
Patriot coach on the Lions

The Patriots (4-3) opened their season with a loss in three games to the Lions. Penn State's key ingredient was accurate hitting that made the Patriots' stay in State College a short one. The Lion kill percentage was a sparkling 47 percent compared to George Mason's dismal 13 percent. Patriot coach Uvaldo Acosta said his team should put up a better showing this time.

"We're slowly improving, but at least we're improving," Acosta said. "They've got two excellent middle hitters. I think we'll be more prepared for them this time."

It is alumni weekend at George Mason. Acosta said the team tries to get as many alums and family members to Fairfax, Va., as possible. He is hoping the extra fans will help the Patriot cause.

Penn State coach Mark Pavlik said playing at George Mason is usually a difficult task anyway.

"We're going to have a pretty tough match at George Mason," he said. "They're going to have a loud crowd in there. We have to remember to play against the team and not them."

Acosta said he knows his team might be overmatched talent-wise against Penn State. He said the Lions' top players will get their kills during the match, but he wants to limit the other hitters on the court.

"We don't have that superstar, so everyone on the court has to work hard," Acosta said. "Whether we win or not is one thing, I hope we compete well to see where we stand."

The biggest win for New Jersey Tech (2-3) came in its first match. Ohio State traveled to New Jersey expecting an easy contest only to leave with a loss in five close games.

"We're hoping maybe Penn State might fall asleep a little like Ohio State did," New Jersey Tech coach Dave DeNure said. "But most teams tend not to do that in their own building. We have our work cut out for us."

DeNure said inconsistency is his club's biggest problem. He said it's especially disappointing considering the Highlanders started the season on such a high note.

"At times we can play great," DeNure said. "We're just struggling to be consistent. We have some talent. We just need to play as a group."

DeNure is still waiting to get his best player back. Swing hitter Wycliffe Gordon is not out with an injury -- he's on the New Jersey Tech basketball team. Gordon joins the volleyball team in March.

Pavlik said he wants the Lions to be more efficient on their side of the net this weekend.

He said fatigue leads to sloppy play and net violations that he thinks will end with the more time the team spent in the training gym during the week. Acosta knows what makes the Lions a special team.

"They don't want to lose, no matter how long it takes," Acosta said.

"We have to learn to be like that."