Hoechst's baffling ability propels spiker offense

Size runs in his family, but Dan Hoechst's skills at the middle blocker position for the Penn State men's volleyball team are not included in the family traits.

"I definitely get my height from my dad's side, but I have no clue where I get my athletic ability," Hoechst said. "My dad was always playing around with chemistry sets and my mom had limited opportunities to get into athletics so I don't know where it comes from. I'm baffled."

Standing 6-foot-7, the freshman towers over many of his teammates and opponents. He also out-hits much of the opposition. With an outstanding .413 hitting percentage, Hoechst is No. 17 in the nation.

Swing hitter Eric Houston said he was told Hoechst was weak and unassertive as a child, but added that has obviously corrected itself.

"I think his role is to be an offensive weapon for the team," Houston said. "He swings real high and that's really tough to block."

Hoechst may not know where his athleticism comes from, but he definitely knows where his roots are. Hoechst is a citizen of Germany and said, although he feels more American than anything, he will stay a German citizen until he feels some urgent need to change.

In the meantime, Hoechst said he and his family return to Germany about every two years to visit family. He said he enjoys the visits and especially enjoys visiting his grandmother who, like the other Hoechsts, is also not very small.

"She's not really small in any way," Hoechst said. "Every time we go there, she makes so much food and she almost forces me to finish all of it."

Hoechst's grandmother is not only concerned with his diet, but also with his school work. Being from a traditional family, Hoechst said his family worried his involvement with volleyball would inhibit his study time, but Hoechst has proved them wrong.

In his four semesters at Penn State, Hoechst has made the Dean's List three times, modestly saying he was reasonably happy with that accomplishment.

Not only does Hoechst excel in class, but he also shines on the court. In Saturday's showdown against Juniata, Hoechst came alive in the third and fourth games managing 14 kills, four digs and one block on the night.

"Dan gives us so much versatility," Penn State coach Mark Pavlik said. "He scores points for us with his tough jump serve and with him in the lineup it gives us size and a lineup no one has ever seen."