STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Jan. 7, 2002 -- The Penn State men's volleyball team has been named preseason number one by Volleyball Magazine in its Jan. 2 poll, the magazine announced recently. The Lions finished the 2001 season tied for seventh in the rankings after falling to eventual NCAA champion BYU in the national semifinal.
Eight of Penn State's 17 opponents are ranked in the poll, including Hawaii (2nd), UCLA (3rd), Stanford (4th) and Ball State (10th). Lewis, Loyola-Chicago, Ohio State and George Mason also received votes in the preseason poll.
The Lions, who return 14 letterwinners from last year's 24-8 team, proved themselves to be among the best in two preseason exhibition matches with national powerhouse Hawaii on Nov. 2 and 3. Penn State fell in five games, 26-30, 30-27, 26-30, 30-23, 22-24 to the Warriors in the first contest, but bounced back the following night to defeat Hawaii in three games, 36-34, 30-22, 30-27.
Penn State is led by first team All-America selection and EIVA Player of the Year Jos¨¦ Qui?ones (Bayamon, Puerto Rico). Joining Qui?ones is Asics/Volleyball Magazine Libero of the Year sophomore Ricky Mattei (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and EIVA all-conference selections Carlos Guerra (junior outside hitter/Tamaulipus, Mexico), Zelimir Koljesar (junior opposite/Kitchener, Ontario), John Mills (senior middle hitter/Fresno, Calif.) and Zach Slenker (junior middle hitter/Dallastown, Pa.).
Penn State opens regular-season play on the road against Ohio State, a 2001 national semifinalist, on Friday, Jan. 11, at 7:00 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio. From there, the Lions travel to the Outrigger Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Jan. 17-19 for matches against the Warriors, UCLA and Lewis.
Penn State will host the NCAA Preview Tournament Feb. 1-2, which includes Lewis, Stanford and George Mason. The Patriots are considered one of the favorites for the EIVA crown. Other key EIVA matchups are Concordia (Feb. 23/April 6), Rutgers (Feb. 16/March 15) and Princeton (Feb. 9/April 13).
The culmination of the 2002 season will end in Happy Valley, as Penn State plays host to the 2002 NCAA Men's Collegiate Championship May 2 and 4 at Rec Hall. Ticket applications are available online at www.GoPSUsports.com
Volleyball Magazine Poll, 1/1/02 No. 1
No. -- School; 2001 Record
1. -- Penn State; 24-8
2. -- Hawaii; 19-7
3. -- UCLA; 24-8
4. -- Stanford; 14-9
5. -- BYU; 23-4
6. -- Long Beach St.; 18-7
7. -- USC; 13-9
8. -- Pepperdine; 14-9
9. -- UC Irvine; 13-13
10. -- Ball State; 19-9
Others Receiving Votes: Lewis, Loyola-Chicago, Pacific, Ohio State, George Mason, Cal State Northridge, UC Santa Barbara
