Spiker match against Stanford more than preseason run through

The preseason is an opportunity for a team to take stock and see what it has and what it needs. Most preseason games are not that big of a deal.

But even a preseason game reaches a new level of importance when the defending national champion in the men's volleyball world goes head-to-head with a final four competitor.

The Penn State men's volleyball team hosted Stanford, the defending national champion, and lost in four games Sunday night at Rec Hall. More importantly than the loss itself, the Nittany Lions recognize the influence that a team like Stanford brings to the court.

"We play every game like it's a national championship so we play every game really hard," Lion opposite hitter Damian Martorana said. "Our spirits tend to get higher when it's a team like that."

The Stanford players know, firsthand, about the spirit of the Penn State team. Although the two teams haven't met since 1995, rumors of the Nittany Lions' success last year in the final four trickled into the western conference.

Stanford and Penn State were on opposite sides of the final four last year and Stanford realized the possibility that these two teams may come within close range again at this year's finals.

"When we came to Penn State, we knew they were a quality team," said Stanford middle blocker Tad Hoffman. "They have quite a tradition of good volleyball teams and they're likely to be in the final four this year."

Lion coach Mark Pavlik tried not to think about Stanford as defending national champion, but more as an opponent who could test his team's skills.

"(Their national championship) was last year," Pavlik said. "This year, we got the chance to play a quality opponent. It was never an issue in what we gave the team."

But the issue did arise in the players' analysis of Stanford's game.

"They played well together and they're positive on the court," Martorana said. "They play with a lot of confidence. They play like a defending national champ."

Stanford's intense play gave way to Penn State players stepping off the bench and stepping it up on the court. Martorana knows the importance of players coming in from the sidelines and giving it their all.

"I'm very pleased to see other players on the team go in and pick up the slack," Martorana said. "That's what builds a great team that can win a national championship, when players can come in strong off the bench."

The Lions set a pace for their season with their match against Stanford. The team wants to be a big deal this year and it's starting it off with big matches in the preseason.