Struggling spikers hoping to strike gold during West Coast road trip

Penn State coach Mark Pavlik made this season's men's volleyball schedule with a simple philosophy -- mirror the 1994 schedule, get the same results.

Four years ago, that schedule, packed with West Coast opponents, built the first NCAA champion from the East Coast. But this year's team is not like those champion Nittany Lions.

When Pavlik packed the 1998 schedule with a nine-day road trip to California during spring break, he did not expect his Lions would be 7-12. The No. 15 Lions will be playing the No. 2 and No. 7 teams in the nation -- a difficult task for a squad that has struggled and lost against unranked opponents.

"Those people who were part of the 1994 team played a really tough schedule and that was a big experience for them," Pavlik said. "With this team, I have to get them in that situation where they are on someone else's home court, with fans screaming. We really haven't been in that situation yet. I firmly believe that down the road, it will do nothing but help us."

No. 7 Stanford boasts a 7-2 record and defends the 1997 national championship. Cardinal Andy Witt is ranked first in kills for Div. I and II schools, averaging 7.41 per game. Witt is joined by Josh Lukens (third in assists) and Tad Hoffman (fifth in hitting percentage).

Regardless of such powerful players on his roster, Stanford coach Ruben Nieves still holds concerns going into the March 9th match with the Lions. Penn State arrives at Stanford right in the middle of a tough week of conference matches for the Cardinal.

"I have to be careful not to play my guys into the ground," Nieves said. "I will need to go to my bench at the start or during the match. We need a good performance from more than just the starting six."

The Pepperdine (9-1) starting six is also brimming with intimidating players. George Roumain is ranked second in kills with a 7.32 average. His team is No. 4 in team hitting percentages averaging .366 per game. Wave coach Marv Dunphy agrees with Nieves, also believing Penn State will be a difficult opponent.

"I think we've been playing pretty well so far," said Dunphy. "(The Lions) have a good setter and a couple of good, quick hitters. I think it is going to be a dog fight."

The No. 2 Waves have had their own experiences with dog fights this season. The team's only loss is to No.1-ranked UCLA. The Waves are the only team so far who have been able to fight with the undefeated Bruins for five games.

Although Penn State will battle unranked teams as well, these opponents should not be taken lightly. Due to the powerful conferences in California, UC Santa-Cruz, Pacific and Cal-State Northridge are sturdy opponents whom the Lions are not use to facing on the East Coast.

"I don't think there is a team out there who is an easy match in their gym," Pavlik said. "They will be geared up for us and, hopefully, we will be for them."

The lack of home court advantage has plagued the Lions so far this season. Penn State has yet to win on the road. And with the odds stacked against this struggling team, their next trip to California does not look any easier.