Greetings from Rec Hall!

Happy Friday the 13^th...or Unhappy Friday the 13^th for you Triskadekaphobians out there...or anybody who wears plain goalie masks named Jason. Yes, the 2012 season is upon us. We are loading the bus after practice at 5:30 PM today to head over to Columbus for our match tomorrow against the Buckeyes.

Before we get into the Buckeye match, I need to thank everyone for a simply wonderful PSU MVB Alumni weekend! Thanks to Guad and Yak for their usual bang-up job in organizing the banquet and the festivities. Additional thanks go to every one of you who did show up. We had a record turnout of alums for the match itself and also for the banquet.

The morning started around 10 AM as many of the experienced alums gathered in South Gym to dust off the rust and play. At one point, I think it was around 11:15 AM, I had counted 32 alums playing on three courts! The earlier 2000's group was well represented by Kevin Hodge, Zach Slenker, Norm Keil, Nate Meerstein, Josh Mowry,  Alex Weaver and Jason Hawkins. Jason brought along his father, Bob...or was it the other way around?? Anyway, if you check out Bob's Facebook page you'll get some photos of the boys. We missed Jose and Aird...that would have set State College back to be sure!

The playing turnout enabled the Alums to put three quality line-ups together for the three games against the Varsity in Main Gym. It didn't take long for retribution to be given for last year's Alumni match. Those in attendance may recall Ken Steadman letting loose a shot which caught Tom Comfort in the nose and drew blood. This year, in one of the first five swings of the first game, Tom hit a ball (after Ken pulled down his block) off of Ken's noggin! Steadman left the match due to concussion-like symptoms! Comfort avenged his blood from last year!

I was very happy with the level of play of the Varsity and the effort which they sustained through the three games. Even with Edgardo Goas being held out after a minor ankle sprain, Tor and Taylor kept their teams playing hard. We blocked well and dug the balls we should have dug. More importantly to me, was the way the Varsity competed. There have been past matches that seemed the Varsity just wanted "to get through it"; however, this group went hard and did it in the manner that an Alumni-Varsity event should be taken.  Also, another impressive element of this was the effort and play by the Alums. Now, they always play hard but it didn't matter who was on the court the Alumni were hustling to the ball and throwing themselves all over the court. It was just like a few years ago when they were the Varsity, except in many cases they took a little longer to get up off the floor than in those years!

After the three games, all won by the Varsity, the Geezer Game ensued. It was tough to consider it a Geezer Game when middle blocking for one side was Luke Murray still under the 30-year old line; however, far be it from me to comment on any of the rules of that game. Besides, referee Kurt Fulmer did the commenting by red carding Mike Gordon. I have it on good authority that had been a lifetime dream of Kurt's. As usual, Mike was quite non-plussed giving Kurt that vacant, blank "Who? Me?" expression that we all know and love from Mike!

After that scintillating exhibition of past talent, which, no doubt, left the Varsity in awe...their squad was split on both benches...came competition #2: The Ball Pull!

The Alumni turned to experience and forwarded Nate Meerstein as their champion. The Varsity eschewed experience and went for raw power and big hands and threw freshman Matt Seifert out to face Meers in the best-of-three event. The first pull, after BPR (that'd be Ball Pull Referee) Guadagnino, had to card Seifert for various infractions (one of which may have been not addressing the BPR with enough respect...I'm not sure of that one) was an easy win for Meers. It made one wonder if the Varsity really threw the big freshman in as a sacrificial lamb to Meers. But, Seifert settled down. He now understood the game and won the second pull forcing a deciding third pull. Third pulls generally come down to experience and even though Seifert did study enough tape on Meers from previous Alumni matches he wasn't prepared as Meers pulled him around the court and eventually wrested the ball from the young freshman giving the Alums the win and tying the weekend's competition at one win apiece. One note here: as the crowd was dissipating, no doubt trying to gather their collective breath after witnessing such a competition, Matt Seifert vowed to "...train with tennis balls and let Kirk Adams know I WILL NEVER LOSE another Ball Pull in my career!" The young man is angered...just a word to the wise for next year!

We then gathered at the Atherton Hotel for the social hour prior to the banquet. The Varsity mingled to welcome the Alums back to campus and try to introduce the frosh to their history. The Atherton's food was delicious and even though the rumors of steak and lobster proved to be false, the dinner was excellent. With the annual presentation of the stools to the freshmen and the photographic documentation by Dave Dicker occurring the banquet was moving. As I watched this, a question popped to mind. Has anyone ever, and I mean ever, viewed ANY of these pictures which Dicker has taken over the last ten years or so of this presentation? I don't think I have seen any. Maybe Hartranft has them somewhere on the PSU MVB Alumni webpage (http://psuvolleyball.com/). Let me know.

Competition #3 is the annual Old Black Water sing-off. The Doobie Brothers hit has been the major feature of the banquet for years and, in all honesty, this Varsity group hasn't been all that impressive with renditions. One may have to go back to the 2008 team with Murray, Max Holt and Joe Sunder all on guitars to get close to any respectable rendition the Varsity has performed. Once again, it was not close! The Alumni, with Frank "Skids" Agnew on the slide reed and outstanding musical direction from Jim "Yak" Wittler (who by my standard is an honorary Doobie) the Alums walked away with the sing-off and winning the weekend 2-1! After witnessing the Varsity effort, alum (and Hills Brother) Ed Josefoski is willing to offer is consulting services to the team so next year's performance by them "doesn't suck!" If Ed can get Matt Seifert on his side it could be an interesting 2013 Alumni Weekend.

As I sit here and reflect on the weekend, I am overwhelmed by the turnout and the overriding homecoming feeling generated by all those present. It was a very welcome feeling which accompanied everything. The realization and appreciation for what PSU and PSU MVB represent was very clear from all present. As I tell our Varsity when they take the court, it is not JUST them; they have the best group of Alumni right behind them. You guys did not disappoint this weekend! Thank you so very much!

Now we have to face our first Varsity opponent in the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday. They will be raising their NCAA Championship banner before our match. We are honored to be the opponent when they do this. Our Big Ten brethren had an outstanding 2011 and will be playing with the knowledge of what it takes to win an NCAA championship. That makes them dangerous no matter how many guys graduated from last year's team. I expect a tough, tough match. It will be a great way to start the 2012 Varsity schedule but in no way will it compare to this past weekend's Alumni start! I'll be back with the update as we are heading back east Saturday evening. Have a great weekend everyone!

All the best!

Pav, Colin, Jay and the 2012 Nittany Lions