Injuries can decimate a team like nothing else.

Earlier this spring, when the Colorado Avalanche lost center Peter Forsberg for the remainder of the playoffs, most people predicted that their Stanley Cup hopes ruptured along with their star center's spleen.

But in steps the trio of Milan Hejduk, Alex Tanguay and Chris Drury to lead the Avs to their second title. Sometimes, players just need to be given the opportunity to excel and they will.

It happened for the Penn State women's volleyball team this weekend. Sure, the Penn State Classic isn't as prestigious as the Stanley Cup, but there was heroism nonetheless.

The Lions upped their record to 6-1 by improvising their way to three victories over the weekend playing without outside hitters Hilary Sexton (elbow) and Mishka Levy (foot).

On Friday night, Jess Hayden stepped onto the floor as the setter. Hayden began the year as the back up to Shannon Bortner, but head coach Russ Rose is never afraid to juggle his line-up. Then Bortner followed Hayden onto the floor and took a spot as an outside hitter.

"Thursday at practice, we found out that Mishka and Hilary weren't going to be able to play," Bortner said. "I'm with Jess working on setting, and coach says to me, 'Why don't you go over there and work on passing, because you might have to play outside hitter this weekend.' "

Bortner has never played outside hitter for a sustained period of time. She saw spot-duty there last season and has played the position in pick-up games and at camps.

Still, she stepped in and had 25 kills on the weekend, registering a .270 hitting percentage. She led the team in defensive digs in two matches and finished with 44.

"If I had to pick an MVP for the weekend, it would be Shannon Bortner," Rose said.

"She stepped in and did what we needed her to do. She's got a great volleyball IQ and she came to play this weekend."

She did more than hold her own — she spiked it with authority and earned recognition on the All-Tournament team.

"I feel good about what I did this weekend," she said. "At the same time, it's my job to do whatever the team needs me to do to win."

Prior to the season, Rose told Bortner that she would be his main utility player.

However, Hayden couldn't win the setter spot outright in camp and Bortner saw significant time there in Penn State's first four games.

On Thursday, faced with learning a new position in one day, she didn't flinch. Despite finding herself in position limbo over the summer, she worked hard and came to camp prepared. She is one of the most enthusiastic players on the team and was named a team captain.

Bortner's performance stood out, but the Lions relied on a complete team effort to win this weekend.

"I think anytime you can win some competitive matches in the rally-scoring format with a lineup you haven't had time to trust, you've got to be pleased," said Rose. "Obviously we had to adjust, and we did that."

Amanda Rome saw time at outside hitter and Hayden played fairly consistently while showing flashes of brilliance at times.

After losing the first game to George Mason on Friday night, the hodge-podge lineup seemed to gel and get better as the weekend went on.

With Levy and Sexton out indefinitely, the Lions will continue to rely on role players moving into key roles.