If someone had just happened to show up at Rec Hall this past weekend to take in some action from the Penn State Invitational, even without too much prior knowledge of the Nittany Lions women's volleyball team, they would have likely noticed Robyn Guokas.

They would have noticed how the redshirt junior middle blocker played with intensity and acted as a constant frustration to the opposition, as Penn State rolled over Rutgers, Quinnipiac and Akron on Friday and Saturday.

It would have been clear that Guokas is a talented player and is crucial to the Lions' fate during a season of uncertainty.

What would not have been clear to the average fan, though, is what it has taken for Guokas to get her play back to the level that her teammates, her coaches and she herself expect.

Prior to her initial junior season at Penn State, Guokas fell victim to a mysterious illness. She started developing severe pains in her neck and back, making volleyball impossible to play. Her physical problems forced her to sit out and watch from the bench as the Lions slumped to their worst season in years.

But now Guokas is back and, using this past weekend for reference, she's hardly missed a beat.

"It was so great to be back, so much fun," Guokas said after the Friday night win over Rutgers, her first game action since 2000. "I can't describe how good it feels to get back on the floor with this team."

At the same time, though, Guokas admitted that reaching this point did not always appear to be a sure thing.

"At first, I have to say I was doubting myself," Guokas said. "But as I got stronger, I knew I could fight through and get past it."

As the Lions struggled last year, losing eight games and eventually crashing out of the NCAA tournament in the second round, team unity and chemistry came into question.

But with Guokas back now, the atmosphere on the court and in the locker room appears to be 180 degrees different.

"Robyn just gives this team a lot of confidence," Guokas's middle blocking partner junior Cara Smith said. "We know that with Robyn on the floor we are going to get the job done."

Mishka Levy, who along with Guokas will be counted on for senior leadership, concurs.

"Robyn gives us stability," Levy said. "For her to come back and play the way she has is just great for this team."

But despite the positive return, the Penn State camp knows there is work to be done for Guokas to return to the form that earned her all-conference honors in 2000.

"When she's healthy, I feel Robyn is one of the best players in the conference," Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose said.

"But her conditioning is a little behind right now. Robyn is key. When she gets her conditioning back to her normal level we'll be fine."

If history is any indication, that should be no problem for Guokas.