UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Jan. 24, 2004 - The ninth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team evened its record to 3-3 on the season with a four-game win (30-20, 24-30, 31-29, 30-27) over IPFW Saturday night in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Mastodons fall to 2-1 for the year.

Sophomore Kevin Wentzel (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led the Lions with 16 kills while junior Keith Kowal (Reading, Pa.) chipped in 15 and sophomore Matt Proper (Guys Mills, Pa.) added 11. Penn State outhit IPFW, .228 to .152, for the match.

Sophomore setter Dan O'Dell (Rochester, N.Y.) dished out 50 assists in the win with senior libero Ricky Mattei (San Juan, Puerto Rico) producing a match-high 15 digs. Wentzel notched his first career double-double by adding 10 digs and also chipped in both of Penn State's service aces.

The Nittany Lions won the blocking battle, 17.5 to 16.0, led by Kowal with 10. It completed his first double-double of the year and marked the second Penn State player to record double-digit block figures this season as sophomore Nate Meerstein (Pittsburgh, Pa.) accomplished the feat at Lewis on Jan. 17. Meerstein recorded six blocks against the Mastodons as did O'Dell and freshman Aaron Smith (Richmond, Va.) chipped in five blocks to go with his six kills.

The Nittany Lions open up their home slate on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 7:00 p.m. versus EIVA foe St. Francis at Rec Hall.

For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.