Dennis Del Valle Class: Sophomore Hometown: Toa Alta, Puerto Rico High School: Colegio Señora Merced Height: 5-8 Position: L

High School
2007 (Summer): Starting libero for the Puerto Rican Youth National Team at the 2007 Youth World Championship in Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico ... named "Best Receiver" of the tournament ... the squad finished 11th in the world.

2006 (Summer): Starting libero for the Puerto Rican Junior National Team at the 2006 NORCECA Boy's Junior Championship in Monterrey, Mexico ... named "Best Digger" of the tournament, where the team finished fourth ... made history at the 2006 NORCECA Boy's Youth Championship in the Dominican Republic, picking up the Triple Crown of defensive awards, becoming the first men's player and only the second player ever in NORCECA history to be named the "Best Digger," "Best Receiver" and "Best Libero" of the same tournament ... squad finished first in the competition.

Two-year varsity letterwinner for Colegio Nuestra Señora de la Merced High School in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico ... helped the squad to the top varsity ranking in Puerto Rico during his senior season, also reaching No. 4 during junior year ... team captured the L.A.C.C. championship in 2007 and also finished first in Copa El Nuevo Dia ... in 2006, squad was runners-up in Copa El Nuevo Dia ... named to the all-star team at the event ... in 2006 was named the MVP of the Colegio La Merced tournament as a libero ... played setter in freshman and sophomore seasons with the junior varsity team, also playing libero with the varsity during sophomore year ... elected to represent the school in the Presidential Classroom in Washington, D.C., in 2006 ... was the only male in the 2005-2006 National Honor Society and won a leadership award ... ranked fourth in his class senior year.

Personal
Born Dennis Jose Del Valle Villalobos on Jan. 27, 1989 in Santurce, Puerto Rico ... parents are Elizabeth Villalobos and Jose Del Valle ... has one sister, Brenda (24) and three step-siblings, Vanessa (34), Jose (29) and Karen (8) ... father was a track and field athlete in Puerto Rico ... names the Dallas Mavericks as favorite pro sports team, Dirk Nowitzki and Novak Djokovic as favorite athletes, "Friends" as favorite television show, "White Chicks" as one of his many favorite movies and his favorite place to visit as anywhere in Europe.

Why Penn State?
"I'm very lucky as Penn State is the only University that gave me the opportunity to play and represent them. They are very good in volleyball and academically, so I knew I would be successful in both at the same time."

Quoting Coach Pavlik
"Dennis has a great intuitive feel for the game that completely belies his freshman status. He has the skill, talent and work ethic to become one of the very best liberos to play in Rec Hall. He is fun to watch."