Things just never seem to turn out as expected.

The No. 10 Penn State men's volleyball team can attest to that.

Want some proof? Ask setter Luke Murray. Ask middle blocker Max Holt.

Or better yet, ask junior libero Ryan Walthall.

When the season started, none of these players were expected to be penciled in to start.

Since then all of them have been have suited up as starters.

This season has been anything but routine for the Nittany Lions with a number of injuries forcing would-be starters to the sidelines.

Once last season ended with a final-four defeat to UCLA, the Lions were expecting a strong 2006 campaign considering who they were bringing back.

The team lost an All-American and numerous record holder in middle hitter Keith Kowal, but it was assumed it would still have the tools to compete for a national championship.

But with injuries piling up that would impress a battered boxer, the team was forced to look deep on its bench to fill voids on the starting side. Here's the recap.

Middle hitter Kyle Masterson and libero Gary Vogel were projected to start at the beginning of the season. Both players were forced to sit out due to injuries and illness, respectively.

Masterson's injury led to Max Holt getting the starting nod at the middle. The true freshman has performed beautifully for the Nittany Lions this year and is one of the favorites for EIVA Freshman of the Year.

Vogel's illness forced outside hitter Aaron Smith to move to libero. Unfortunately for both him and the team, he was suspended for the rest of the year for violating team rules.

Smith's suspension threw Ryan Walthall into the fire, and he's been starting since mid-March.

Sophomore setter Luke Murray had to replace senior Dan O'Dell for four matches due to a knee injury that forced him to the sidelines.

And let's not forget the outside hitter position. The talent of true freshman Matt Anderson garnered him starters minutes to begin the season, but the experience of Alex Gutor and Kevin Wentzel have led the coaching staff to choose them over Anderson for the late season playoff push.

So what does all this shuffling in the lineup mean?

In my opinion, it can only help the Lions in the long run.

Senior co-captain Nate Meerstein thinks so, too.

"It's a benefit knowing that everyone on our bench has been thrown in the fire and we expect them to compete and compete well," he said. "They've done that this year."

The team has used the uncertainty at these positions as a spark for success.

"We tell the guys every year, you're one play away from having to contribute heavily," head coach Mark Pavlik said. "There's been competition at positions, which is a healthy thing. It's certainly not a negative."

With conference playoffs and the NCAA championships mere weeks away, it's nice knowing that everyone on your bench is dependable.

Although it would've been nice to have the same six or seven guys playing all year, the team will value having skill players to step in when called upon.

And what will that all mean come May?

Hopefully, it means an NCAA championship.

And at least the team will know that every player played a part in it.