As a player for the Lions Pavlik was a setter under then head coach Tom Tait, who is considered the father of Penn State volleyball. Tait established both the men's and women's programs in the late 1970s and won over 300 games as coach of the men's team. He also was the first coach of the Lady Lions.

Though Pavlik followed coach Tom Peterson at Penn State, he said his style was acquired by the coach for whom he played.

"Tom (Tait) was my mentor who I'm consistently in touch with," Pavlik said. "He gave me what Penn State volleyball is today."

Pavlik has seen his share of highs and lows since taking over the reigns of the program.

In his first season he took the Lions back to the NCAA Championship game, but they fell short of repeating as champs after losing to Hawaii in four games.

"I came in with my eyes wide open," Pavlik said. "I thought the team we had may have been better than the year before."

Last season was something unfamiliar for Penn State and Pavlik. The Lions went 17-15 and for the first time with Pavlik as head coach did not qualify for NCAAs. It was also the first year since Pavlik took over that they did not win the EIVA conference.

But the ups and downs of last season and all that happens in his sport do not seem to faze the coach. Pavlik always seems to be calm on the bench no matter what may be happening on the court.

"Fans come to see the players play," Pavlik said, "not the coaches coach."

Seniors Dan Pollock and Sergio Pampena have been through all of Pavlik's 99 victories. The two redshirted their first seasons in 1995 when Pavlik took over. They have grown as players while Pavlik has grown as their coach.

"He has matured as a coach," Pollock said. "He changed my personality and made me a better setter. Last season we probably saw every emotion possible in Pavlik. He gets mad and angry but it only happens when people are not playing well.

"He always wants you to go all-out effort in every match. He has matured as a coach and has made me a better leader."