Since the inception of rally-scoring in 2001, the collection of middle hitters that Penn State men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik has paraded on to the court has been eerily good.

Keith Kowal, Nate Meerstein, Max Holt -- and Max Lipsitz?

In reference to the first three, Pavlik said, "Those are three of the best that have ever played here."

Their names pepper the school record book.

Meanwhile, Lipsitz is just a freshman.

He's starting out of necessity.

When asked why, despite his superb hitting percentage, Lipsitz wasn't being given more attacks, setter Luke Murray said, "He's not really part of our offense."

About a month ago, in a conversation about his freshman starter, Pavlik labeled him as, "a pretty typical freshman."

Although none of those statements are insulting, none of them are exactly praise either.

Yet, when comparing his statistics from the first half of the season (through the conclusion of the team's annual West Coast swing during spring break) with the same period during Kowal, Meerstein and Holt's first years starting, Lipsitz was equal or better than all three in several categories.

Since being thrust into his starting position out of necessity as he watched the rest of his recruiting class either redshirt or be relegated to the end of the bench, Lipsitz has quietly put together perhaps the best start to a Penn State middle hitter's career.

In his collegiate debut against Ball State on Jan. 12, Lipsitz tied the school record for highest single-game hitting percentage when he posted eight kills on eight attacks for a perfect 1.000 clip.

From then on, all Lipsitz did was hit .476 over the first half of the season -- besting all three of the others, with Kowal, Penn State's career leader in hitting percentage, coming the closest at .470.

Against IPFW Jan. 13, his second collegiate match, he recorded his first career ace.

He'd go on to post nine aces over the first half of the season, tying him with Holt for best in the group -- and he did so with the second-fewest serving errors. Only Meerstein posted fewer, and he didn't use the less accurate jump serve.

"I'm real happy with the way he's played," Murray said later in the season. "Obviously he's not our No. 1 offensive threat, but when he gets set the ball he puts it away and he's hitting at a real high percentage, and that's what we need out of him.

"He has good blocking, and for him to be an option to go to when we need him. When the other teams are maybe keying off some other guys he can get the key kill that we're looking for out of him."

Sophomore outside hitter Matt Anderson, a club teammate of Lipsitz's in their home state of New York, knew this was coming.

"I always knew he was going to be good," Anderson said. "With being tall and having our [club] coach, who developed me into the player I am ... Last time I played with him he was really timid out there. He was playing up a level. Then I saw him play in the club tournament we have here, and it looked like he took more of, being a captain almost. More vocal and more aggressive."

Lipsitz has taken a similar route in his development at this level as well.

Following in the footsteps of the middle hitters who came before him, Lipsitz took a large step forward upon returning from the West Coast swing.

So far in the second half, he's hitting .533, has 11 aces, and 40 blocks.

Currently, Lipsitz is hitting .501 for the season, which is not only best on the team, but also sixth nationally.

Yesterday he was named the EIVA Player of the Week for the second time this season. The only other Lions to receive the honor this season are senior Alex Gutor and the junior Murray -- they have two nods combined.

Yet, his development was most evident in a 3-2 win over then No. 11 IPFW on March 24.

In Game 4 of that match, Lipsitz blocked an attack, sending the ball straight up directly over the net.

Before anyone else on the court had a chance to react, Lipsitz was back in the air.

Result: Point Penn State. Kill by Max Lipsitz.

Pavlik noticed.

"You've got to mention the play of Max Lipsitz tonight," Pavlik said after the match. "He was a stud. He blocked balls. He made a couple of plays there... That's a pretty athletic play."

At which point Holt cut off the coach: "He's maturing," he said.

"You look at 8 blocks. He hit .545, 3 aces, 3 errors, yeah...(silence)...he played very well," Pavlik continued.

Before this past Friday's senior night, Pavlik discussed the legacy this most recent group of seniors will leave behind.

Kowal graduated in 2005 as Penn State's career leader in hitting percentage and blocks.

Meerstein graduated last year, ranking second and third, respectively in those categories -- and was a member of the only Penn State team to make it to the national championship game in 11 years.

Holt is only a sophomore, but is in the process of breaking Penn State's single-season ace record (so far has bested the previous mark of 47 by two) -- and already ranks in the Top 10 for career aces at Penn State.

A freshman Lipsitz may be, but if he continues down the path he's on, Pavlik's "three of the very best that have ever played here," could very well turn out to be four.