While not every team the Penn State men's volleyball squad faced this past weekend will end up in the Final Four, this weekend's Final Four Preview did give it a sampling of what it'll be up against during the regular season.

The Nittany Lions wrapped up their exhibition season by winning two of three matches. Penn State recorded its best preseason record in recent years, posting a 4-1 finish.

The Lions followed up wins against Pepperdine two weeks ago with a four-game dismantling of Springfield (34-36, 30-22, 30-28, 30-15) to open the Final Four Preview in New York Friday.

Though Ball State slipped by Penn State Saturday afternoon (29-31, 31-29, 25-30, 26-30), the Lions came roaring back against Southern California, sweeping the Trojans (34-32, 30-23, 30-22).

Though the teams played on neutral courts, the Final Four Preview gave Penn State an opportunity to readjust to the dynamics of playing on the road. The Lions will be traveling often during the regular season as their schedule features 17 away matches.

Penn State head coach Mark Pavlik said that though the team didn't face hostile crowds this weekend, it is mature and experienced enough to respond well when it plays in front of unreceptive fans on the road.

"This is a veteran team," Pavlik said. "We just keep reminding them that they're working towards the EIVA championships and the NCAA championships, and this weekend helped to get the ball rolling."

Led by senior outside hitter Carlos Guerra's weekend-leading 15 kills, Penn State upended Springfield Friday in a rematch of last year's EIVA championship quarterfinal match despite dropping the first game, 36-34.

Though Springfield came out firing in the first game, taking advantage of several Lion miscues, Penn State would quiet any talk of an upset by holding the Pride to only 22 points in the second game and only 15 points in the fourth game.

Ball State took the first game from the Lions Saturday as well, but wouldn't allow a Penn State comeback.

Compared to a .368 hitting percentage the night before, the Lions stumbled against Ball State, hitting a meager .243.

As Pavlik shuffled players in his lineup, Ball State took control, outworking Penn State's reserves.

"Ball State took their game up and we didn't respond well enough," Pavlik said.

The Lions would return to form against Southern California, posting a .361 hitting percentage behind Guerra's 12 kills and senior Zach Slenker's 10 kills. Led by senior Zelkjo Koljesar's three aces and junior Norm Keil's four blocks, Penn State's serving and blocking game lifted it to victory over the struggling Trojans, a team in transition after a tumultuous 6-22 campaign last season.

"Our serving game put Southern California on its heels," Pavlik said. "It seemed like every time Norm Keil went across the front row, he had a block."

This season's Lions are hardly a team in transition. Five starters return from last year's Final Four team including Guerra, Slenker, Koljesar, Keil and libero Ricky Mattei.

Junior Nate Matthews, who missed all three matches this weekend due to strep throat and mononucleosis, will likely take over the starting setting position, while junior Keith Kowal is also likely to join the starting lineup soon.