A No. 1 ranking. Host of the 2002 National Championships.

It's expected to be a big year for the Penn State men's volleyball team. Perhaps what could be the first championship season since 1994 is set to begin for the Nittany Lions as they travel to Ohio State to take on the Buckeyes at 7 p.m. tonight.

With all six starters returning from last season, the Lions are an early favorite to win the national championship. Two-time All-American setter Jose Quinones will lead First Team All-EIVA selections Carlos Guerra (junior outside hitter), Zelimir Koljesar (junior right side hitter) and John Mills (senior middle hitter).

The Lions, however, are not letting their No. 1 ranking cloud their focus heading into tonight's season opener.

"Teams ranked No. 1 have a reason to be ranked No. 1 and that's because they are able to focus," said Lions coach Mark Pavlik.

Though Ohio State lost three starters from last season and is facing a rebuilding year with several new players, Penn State doesn't want to underestimate the Buckeyes, who have captured six of the last nine Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association championships. Though Penn State leads the all-time series with Ohio State 44-19-1, the Buckeyes have won seven of the last eight meetings against the Lions.

Last year, Ohio State finished 21-7 and 12-4 in the MIVA, good enough for a second-place tie. The Buckeyes won the MIVA Tournament and went on to advance to the semifinals of the national championships.

Against a good, quality opponent like Ohio State, Penn State will have to pull together well on the road to defeat the Buckeyes, Pavlik said.

"A win in St. John is a good way to start the season," Pavlik said. "They are capable of handing us a loss."

His players know they face a tough task.

"Ohio State has always been a national powerhouse," said sophomore libero Ricky Mattei.

"They have a freshman class so we have to take advantage of that," Mattei said. "We have to exploit that."

Outside hitter Pieter Orlee, 2001 MIVA Tournament Most Valuable Player and member of this past summer's gold medal USA World University Games, is Ohio State's only returning senior and is likely to be the player the team depends upon. Second team All-MIVA selection Orlee had 3.49 kills per game for the Buckeyes last season, second on the team. Middle hitter Adam Pedersen, ninth in the country last season in blocks (1.38 per game), and setter Mark Peckham, coming off an injury-plagued year, return to the starting lineup as well.

Penn State will have to watch for the junior trio of setter Jon Schultz, outside hitter Tom Tantrow, and outside hitter Mark Lehman. Schultz started 14 consecutive matches for the Buckeyes last year and led the team with 731 assists (13.05 per game). Tantrow led Ohio State with 1.74 digs per game. Lehman played in 27 matches for the Buckeyes and saw some actions as the libero.

The Lions will focus on fundamentals, including effective passing and quick scoring, and executing strategies that have worked for them in the past. Pavlik said that the keys to the Lions' game plan are staying mentally tough and disciplined and controlling the tempo.

"We have to play our game," junior Koljesar said. "We have to pass. We have to find a way to score."

For the Lions to come away with a win they are going to need their stars to step up.

"Jose (Quinones) has to set well," Pavlik said. "He has been talked about as being the best setter in collegiate volleyball right now."

"Carlos (Guerra) and Zeljko (Koljesar) are in their third year and have been around. They have to contribute."