Spikers talking the talk, walking the walk

Dizzy Dean once said, "If you're good at it, it ain't bragging." By watching the gestures and words being exchanged between them and their opponents, it must mean the Penn State men's volleyball team is on their way to a national title.

Actually, the Nittany Lions are fighting to make their way to an eighth straight EIVA championship and NCAA Final Four appearance in as many years. Despite a rocky regular season, the team's swagger and attitude continues to flow into its play. The two main culprits are two juniors setter Dan Pollock and middle blocker Sergio Pampena.

Talking, yelling, raising the roof, whatever your definition of over-celebrating may be, the Lions have done it. Instead of using it to demean their opponent, some players use it to give their play an extra boost.

"Different people approach the game differently. I happen to like being loud and trying to fire people up," freshman swing hitter Steve Aird said. "As a team, if you're having fun, you play better than if you're all serious. If you're in someone's face laughing and shouting, they start to laugh and by the end of the game, everybody's laughing and having fun."

Men's volleyball is an attitude sport. If you get blocked, you're going to hear it from the person who blocked you. And if you get a great swing at a ball that drops right in the opponent's face, the enthusiasm can sometimes take over.

That was the case in Saturday's EIVA quarterfinal match against Juniata, when Pampena charged the Lions with several kills in a crucial third game to come from behind and win, leading to a three-games-to-one victory over the Eagles.

"We don't say too much at the beginning, but when the other team begins to mouth off, it gets me going," Pampena said. "It picks up my level of play."

While the players feed off of their individual emotions, Lion head coach Mark Pavlik feels some emotions need to be shared with their teammates.

"It's always great to celebrate, but celebrate with your team," Pavlik said.

With the Lions' emotion growing after advancing to the EIVA semifinals against Princeton tomorrow, expect some more trash talking and showboating in the next two weeks.