The scene in the South Gym of Rec Hall was unlike that of any regular volleyball match.

A ragtag group of aging men in old-school Penn State attire and faded gym shorts were seated at one end of the court.

On the opposite end stood their counterparts, a band of upstart college students dressed to the nines in their home uniforms.

The obvious connection between the two sides was evident, however, as the present met the past on Saturday. For the 31st year in a row, the Penn State men's volleyball team took on its alumni and it was the ragtag group who eked out a win, taking two out of three games.

"I wish we could play against those guys every day in practice," Penn State men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik said. "They know how to play the game. They don't make mistakes."

In the first game, it was Penn State's starting lineup versus the best of the alumni.

The two sides battled back and forth but the present Nittany Lions won their only game of the afternoon, 35-33.

In the next two games, however, it was the alumni who defeated the Lions, 30-20 in and 33-31, respectively. In the end, however, there were no hard feelings on either side as handshakes came in abundance.

"There is a lot of pride from the guys on the alumni side and from the guys on the varsity side," Pavlik said. "The varsity comes out saying, 'We want to show you where this program is. It's in good hands.' The guys get to know where they come from and I think that's really good."

After the three games, both present and past got together to catch up and swap stories. A banquet was held for everyone and their families, giving the former Lions the chance to impart their wisdom.

"I love Penn State and I loved my experience here," Jason Kepner, a 1997 graduate said. "It's just an easy way to see as many people as you can."

Kepner, like many former Lions, has stuck with volleyball after college, playing professionally all around the world. He is now the assistant coach of the University of Pittsburgh women's volleyball team.

The ages ranged from the oldest Lion alumni, who graduated in 1966, to Dan O'Dell, who just graduated this past December. O'Dell was on the sideline but did not play because his shoulders and knee are still not 100 percent. Despite graduating last semester, however, O'Dell has already morphed out of the college scene and into an alumnus.

"It's weird being on this side of the court for once," O'Dell said. "I'm on the alumni side now. Those guys, they need to learn lessons from us now."