When an athlete has a successful year with a team, it is commonplace for him to return the next year. However, after a year in which he led the Penn State men's volleyball team in blocks (118), was third on the team in attacks (473) and kills per game (2.70), senior John Mills is missing from the court.

What is in question is not Mills' athletic or academic ability, but it is his eligibility. The NCAA gives every athlete four years of eligibility. The discrepancy lies in whether Mills, an All-EIVA first team selection in 2001, has already used all four of his years of eligibility.

He began his volleyball career at San Diego State University during his freshman and sophomore seasons, using two years of eligibility. In 2000, he played on the club team. According to Mills, he was told that playing on the club team would not affect his eligibility.

When San Diego State dropped their men's volleyball program, he transferred to Penn State, using a year of eligibility in 2001 as a junior. UCLA has filed a claim that when Mills played on the club team at San Diego State, he used a year of eligibility. Bruins coach Al Scates said that according to his interpretation of NCAA rules, when Mills played on San Diego State's club team it counted as a year of eligibility.

"I would've never played club ball if it would have cost me a year of eligibility," Mills said.

Therefore, with the year that Mills played on the club team counting as a year of eligibility, 2001 would be his last eligible year. However, Mills was told that playing on a club team would not affect his eligibility and he believes he should be eligible to play this year.

"I'm a little bitter," Mills said. "It's a really disheartening situation."

John Bove, NCAA Compliance Director, said that the university has submitted a fax to the NCAA on behalf of Mills, and is just hoping for "a timely response."

"I think they will be sensitive to the student-athlete issue, although, they do have many urgent requests," Bove said.

Mills still can't understand why the matter has not been resolved.

"We have such a small sport, it should not be that big of a deal," Mills said. "It's just frustrating with all the paperwork. I just want to go out there and play."

The controversy has not kept Mills from working hard, conditioning and practicing with the team.

"I'm still going through the daily things," he said. "I'm still working my butt off every day in practice, still lifting, still conditioning. I just hope."

Though Penn State's middle hitters Zack Slenker and Norm Keil have stepped up their play filling in during Mills' absence, Lions coach Mark Pavlik is eager for his return. Having played in 107 of 114 games last year, Mills' return would be welcomed as he would only bolster an already potent lineup.

"Having John (Mills) back would add more depth to the team," Pavlik said. "We want him as a contributing player."

Bove would not speculate on when to expect Mills to return, though Mills says he hopes to return Saturday against Stanford.