During an athlete's senior season, any time not on the court is torture.

Having to watch your team lose its first conference match in two years makes matters even worse.

Dan O'Dell, the starting setter for the No. 9 Penn State men's volleyball team, has been sidelined with a knee injury for the past two weeks, but cheering from the sidelines might be a distant memory for the senior.

After seeing the doctor yesterday morning, he has been cleared to begin practice. Although trying to be ready for this weekend's EIVA opponents Princeton and Rutgers-Newark may be overly optimistic, O'Dell is hoping to make his triumphant return on Senior Night on April 8 vs. Lewis.

"I won't be able to play this weekend, but there's always a sense of urgency since this is my last year playing," O'Dell said. "It's pretty much my last year playing volleyball, so that in itself is giving me urgency to want to get back on the court."

The training staff has been working to make sure O'Dell is back on the court sooner rather than later.

He has gotten the stitches taken out of his knee and has gone through extensive rehab to build up the strength lost due to the injury.

Trainers have put him through extensive leg training that includes leg extensions and leg curls. They have also done a lot of balance work, to ensure his knee maintains control and holds up in all of the hard, rigorous landings that are commonplace in a volleyball match.

O'Dell believes the rehab has helped considerably.

"It's been good, it's been tough. They're keeping the strength up, working the leg hard," he said. "It's been helpful to make sure I get back on the court as quick as possible."

Sophomore Luke Murray has been O'Dell's replacement, and he has done an admirable job in the senior's absence.

Still, O'Dell is a 6-foot-7 setter. That type of height is not typical when it comes to setters at the collegiate level, and that gives the Nittany Lions a considerable advantage in their blocking game.

As tempting as it is to get O'Dell back in the lineup as soon as possible, the coaching staff isn't taking any chances.

"I think the worst thing I can do is to have expectations right now [on his return]," Penn State head coach Mark Pavlik said.

"We'll wait and see, and not rush him."