Riding the Wave
Identity-seeking Spikers host No. 4 Pepperdine tonight

By JOSH DAECHE
Collegian Staff Writer

After beating up on Canada's top collegiate teams last weekend only to self-destruct against Ohio State Tuesday night, the Penn State men's volleyball team is in search of an identity.

The Nittany Lions (4-1) look to rebound and find that early season identity at 7:30 tonight against Pepperdine in Rec Hall. And those surrounding the program look to answer one simple question -- which Penn State team will show up tonight?

The Lions dropped their first contest of the season (15-8, 15-12, 15-8) Tuesday against Ohio State. The loss came just days after Penn State swept four matches against Canadian teams and was marked by 20 service errors and a team hitting percentage of .228.

The Lions' few bright spots came from a pair of senior middle hitters -- Sergio Pampena, who had a team-high 19 kills and six blocks, and Tony Mazzullo, who added 15 kills and seven digs. Pampena raised his level of play after struggling early in the first game. Setter Dan Pollock also had 49 assists in the loss.

Pepperdine comes into Happy Valley ranked No. 4 by Volleyball Magazine, a ranking Pepperdine coach Marv Dunphy does not believe his squad deserves. Dunphy said Penn State, on the other hand, is being overlooked in the polls.

"We saw how they (Penn State) looked in the fall in Canada and they're as good as anyone," Dunphy said. "Their coaches have done a great job.

"We lost three starters … The teams that have everyone back should be rated above us."

Tonight's match begins a set of three straight Penn State-Pepperdine clashes in three different cities. Pepperdine, who holds a 10-3 all-time record against Penn State, will battle the Lions Friday at Norristown High School and Saturday at Council Rock High School.

Pepperdine is coming off a season in which it lost the NCAA Championship game to UCLA. If the Wave have any aspirations of winning their fifth national title, they will need to rely on last year's AVCA and Volleyball Magazine Player of the Year, outside hitter George Roumain.

Roumain led Pepperdine with 717 kills in 28 games last year. He averaged 20 kills per game.

Penn State, which hasn't beat the Wave since 1990, will try to keep Roumain in check.

"We heard he's moved to the swing hitter position and is passing the ball more," said Penn State assistant coach Dennis Hohenshelt. "We will have to put our best blocker against him."

Roumain will have some help coming from the other outside hitter position, where sophomore Keith Barnett and last year's Volleyball Magazine Freshman of the Year Scott Wong roams. In 1998, Wong finished second on the team with 386 kills and added 224 digs.

If the outside hitter slot is Pepperdine's strength, than the middle blocker position is its weakness. The Wave lost both Chris Jacobson and Rick Tune, who combined for almost 600 kills and more than 300 blocks last season. Sophomore Don Killian and freshman Chris Van Reusen have replaced the departed duo, and Dunphy believes playing against Penn State will be a test for them.

"It is a great challenge for us and them, especially Van Reusen who is a freshman," said Dunphy.

The Lions hope to exploit the Wave's youthful middle.

"Our middle is where are game plan starts," said Hohenshelt. "Their freshman (Van Heusen) is good and physical and their sophomore (Killian) is very athletic."