After one of the most intense practices of the year, Mishka Levy walks over to the cooler, fills a cup with just a squirt of water, and gulps it in one quick motion. She crushes the cup and tosses it in the wastebasket.

The Penn State outside hitter is feeling better. She has shown some of her old power in practice. Maybe she couldn't reach some of the balls she wanted to during the high speed, non-stop intra-squad scrimmage the No. 11 Nittany Lions (13-3, 6-2) had just played. But she was no more fatigued than any of the other players, and she had worked as hard as any of them.

Most of all, her left foot felt like it was holding up, which is as good as it has felt all year.

Later, when she got the bag of ice on it, the dull ache returned. She sat in pain on the trainer's table, but then and there, pain is fine. On the court is when pain is devastating. On the court is when Levy can't take it.

"You can't really do anything about it," she said. "If it hurts, it hurts. It's worse not playing."

The bum foot didn't buckle under the weight of expectation — that much is for sure. Levy has dealt with this type of pressure plenty in her prolific volleyball career. Coming off a season in which she tallied more attacks than any other Lion in history, Levy figured to be a key offensive weapon again this year. And after being named AVCA second-team All-American and earning third-team recognition on the Volleyball Magazine team last season, Levy seemed poised to take her place among the elite hitters in Penn State history.

The coaches recognized her as a pre-season All-Big Ten selection in anticipation of an explosive offensive season.

A season that, as of yet, has fizzled and failed to materialize.

Through the first 16 matches of the season, Levy has seen time in just 39 of 56 games, and even then only sparingly for short spurts. The Lions have set her just 244 times, compared to 615 for team-leading Katie Schumacher (which puts her at a higher per game average than Levy had last year.)

"Obviously, I wish I was having the impact I had last year," she said. "But all I care about is winning."

In late 1997, when Levy reversed her childhood dream of playing at nearby Texas, she chose Penn State for many reasons.

"Texas was just two-and-half hours away," she said. "It was close to my parents and I felt comfortable."

A trip to Happy Valley changed all that.

"It felt like home, which is a weird way to look at it," she said. "And my parents just said, 'If that's what you want, then go for it.' I mean, college is a unique experience. You only get one chance to go away and find out who you really are."

Knowing Katie Schumacher and Nadia Edwards from the U.S. Junior National team didn't hurt either.

Academically, Levy was set on pursuing a gerontology degree. Her interest in the medical study of old age and aging was perked by her mother Leleith, who works in the health care field. Penn State was one of only three schools Levy looked at that offered the program.

On the court, Levy knew she had a chance to win at Penn State. Head coach Russ Rose was clearly in the final stages of building a national power, his teams having shared Big Ten championships in '96 and '97. In '97, the Lions lost in the NCAA championship to Stanford.

"I was following along," said Levy. "And they had some great teams. I knew I was stepping into tradition."

As a redshirt freshman in 1998, Levy was there when her team again failed to win the final game of the tournament, losing to Long Beach State.

The next year, Levy stepped in at middle hitter and was second on the team in blocks per game. She started the national championship game against Stanford, recording three kills and five blocks as the Lions finally captured a championship.

"Playing with those players, doing what we did," she said, "is something I could never forget."

It is also what drives her now.

"I want to get back there," she said. "And I think this team is capable."

But this team needs Mishka. It needs her in the worst way. Not because the other players can't get the job done. Because Mishka, when on her game, is unstoppable. She forces teams to change their plans completely, giving Penn State that edge they need over elite teams.

She makes them uncomfortable, and that feeling is stifling.

"Right now, she's kind of the x-factor," said Rose. "She knows what she needs to do to make us successful, and we're counting on her doing that."

Levy's foot has bothered her since the beginning of camp. A bone scan earlier revealed nothing serious. She missed two matches earlier in the year, but couldn't stand wearing street clothes on the sideline. She'd rather play through the injury than sit out.

Which, oddly enough, may be the perfect treatment.

"A lot of times with young people it's a matter of confidence," said Rose. "We need Mishka to hit herself out of this. A lot of it has to happen with Mishka."

But if it weren't for Levy's parents, she would have never even tried volleyball.

Steve was born in England but is of Jamaican decent. He met Leleith, who is from Jamaica, in Holland while they were both in school.

The couple moved to Texas because it allowed for easy travel to Jamaica, where they still had a large family.

"Every time I would go back as a kid, I'd meet a new cousin," said Levy.

She didn't get to make the trip this summer because of unrest in Jamaica.

Growing up, Levy was shy and awkward around peers. Her parents signed her up for anything and everything in hopes of getting her to socialize and show enthusiasm.

There was karate, which Levy didn't like because "it smelled like feet." Getting chopped and kicked wasn't pleasant either. Next, it was into the dance studio, but Levy couldn't stand the tutu. She tried jazz and tap, none to satisfaction. An unfortunate showing on the uneven bars ended Levy's gymnastics career. Levy stuck with the flute and piano for a while, but as soon as she stepped on to the volleyball floor she knew she had found her passion.

"It was fifth grade," she said. "As soon as I was out there, I knew that volleyball would be my road."

Every road has some bumps, some potholes, some rocky spots. Construction to fix those problems slows you down, and seems to make the trip take forever.

But isn't it automotive bliss cruising at 65 m.p.h. on those fresh new roads when they are finally opened?

According to Levy, she just needs to get the new layer of road flattened out.

"It's just a matter of improving on the little things," she said. "Then the big things seem much easier."

For Penn State, the Mishka Levy highway may be the only route to a second national championship.