Coming into this season, it was common knowledge that this year's Penn State men's volleyball team would be drastically different from last year's.

Through graduation the Nittany Lions had essentially lost their identity.

Entering 2007, no one really knew what to expect of them. They returned three starters (outside hitter Alex Gutor, rising star Max Holt and libero Ryan Walthall).

However, they had lost a class of seniors whose presence both on and off the court was expected to be sorely missed.

The seniors' sense of humor semingly defined the team, and for its play the class was named to the All-EIVA team a total of 11 times.

"Playing in front of Rec Hall, it's a pretty sophisticated volleyball crowd," Pavlik said before his team's home opener two weeks ago. "They know good volleyball. And I would hope they're looking forward to seeing this edition of our team play."

The No. 7 Lions (6-2, 3-0 EIVA) would win their first three home matches, but did so without a signature moment.

This edition of the Lions had yet to find a new one.

Early on against George Mason Saturday, the Lions were struggling. The Patriots' Will Price, who entered the match pacing the country in kills per game with 7.2, had been dominating offensively, and Penn State found itself trailing late in Game 1.

It was then, in front of a packed South Gym -- 1,492 spectators in total -- that the player most glaringly different from his predecessor gave the team a face.

After partially blocking a Patriot attack, Penn State setter Luke Murray fell back down to earth but had lost track of the ball.

"I heard Foltzy [Penn State setter Travis Foltz] scream, 'Up. Up.' And I looked and happened to see it flying across the net and I just took off right after it," Murray said.

Murray sprinted nearly 20 feet down George Mason's side of the court.

He hit the ball over his head, back to the Penn State side for his teammates to play, miraculously keeping it from crossing the net in bounds.

Penn State won the point.

"We tell the guys, 'You never know when just sheer all-out hustle is gonna turn a game around,'" Pavlik said.

The crowd erupted.

Penn State made a series of spectacular plays, with each the crowd got louder.

With each the team got louder.

They had found their identity.

They are Murray, the diminutive shaggy-haired setter described by Pavlik as, "A Golden Retriever," because there's rarely a ball he can't get to in practice -- and there's never a ball he doesn't run after.

They are Walthall, the ever-moving, ever-diving back row defender.

They are Matt Anderson, who knocked over the scorer's table in pursuit of the ball.

And judging by the crowd's reaction Saturday, it's a fan of this team.