Penn State expects Powers' players to be solid gold

By Adam Gorney
Collegian Staff Writer

The Penn State men's volleyball team faces a major challenge this weekend.

The No. 9 Lions are competing in two matches against the preseason No. 2 team in the country, the Trojans of Southern California.

Penn State also has the daunting task of challenging a former USC All-American and U.S. Olympic gold medalist in Pat Powers, the Trojans coach.

Penn State men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik had many kind words regarding the former All-American and Olympian. Pavlik said he respected Powers as a player, but now appreciates his talent as a coach.

"From what he's done the last two or three years at S.C., he has them going in the right direction," the sixth-year coach said. "He has certainly done a great job."

However, the admiration is not a one-way street.

"Penn State gets a lot of players from parts of the country that we don't have access to," Powers said. "They got Jason Hawkins who we wanted to come out here."

This year's USC volleyball program, led by senior captain Donald Suxho, believes this might be the year the previously dominant Trojans re-capture the national spotlight.

With a host of talented players and an outside hitter who can knock the leather off the ball in Brook Billings, the Lions will face an uphill battle this Friday and Saturday night.

Penn State realizes its underdog role — a role these Lions don't mind playing.

"The way I see it is we're heavy underdogs even though we're highly respected," Lions co-captain Steve Aird said. "Our team is loose, even the younger guys."

Pavlik said he realizes anything can happen this weekend because it is the beginning of the season and both teams have only played in one tournament thus far.

Regarding the decorated playing history of Powers, Pavlik noted one very important aspect:

"He is now Pat Powers, the coach."