University Park, Pa., June 7, 2007 ¨C Penn State men¡¯s volleyball head coach Mark Pavlik has announced that Edgardo Gonzalez, Brad McCoy, Thomas Pereira da Silva, Joe Sunder and Jesse Wagner will be eligible to compete for the Nittany Lions in the 2007-2008 season.

¡°This recruiting class could turn into a class that will contribute at a high level very quickly,¡± said Pavlik. ¡°We¡¯ve certainly addressed the current and upcoming positional needs at outside hitter, libero and setter with this group. We look forward to these student-athletes being in the gym with us for the next four to five years.¡±

Edgardo Gonzalez is a 6-5 setter from San Juan, Puerto Rico. A three-time team captain for Colegio Marista High School, Gonzalez led the Seahawks to two varsity and two junior varsity championships within the Puerto Rico High School Athletic Alliance. The team captain of the Puerto Rico Sub-19 team in 2007, Gonzalez has also played for the club programs Torrimar and Borinquen Coqui and was a four-time member of the Puerto Rico High School Athletic Alliance All-Star Teams.

¡°Edgardo continues the long line of outstanding setters coached by Juan Aviles at Colegio Marista,¡± stated Pavlik. ¡°Edgardo¡¯s international experience will serve him well in our gym and will bring back memories of our last Marista setter: Jose Quinones. He has good size and quickness and is a very astute student of the game.¡±

Brad McCoy is a 6-2 opposite and outside hitter from Irvine, Calif. A two-year volleyball captain at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, Calif., McCoy helped the Sea Kings to the 2006 and 2007 Pacific Coast League Championships as well as earning the 2007 CIF Division II Championship. Also a member of the Balboa Bay club program in Orange County, Calif., McCoy was a member of the Quiksilver team that captured a bronze medal in the open division at last year¡¯s Junior Olympic Nationals.

¡°Brad is coming from one of the pre-eminent high school volleyball programs in the country,¡± said Pavlik. ¡°He has played with and against some of the best scholastic and club players in the country. He is a good jumper with a quick arm and he has the physical tools to succeed at this level.¡±

Thomas Pereira da Silva is a 6-3 outside hitter from Brasilia, Brazil. Born in Paris, Pereira da Silva played club ball for the Maryland Volleyball Program from 2002-2004 and for Apcef Brasilia from 2004-2006. He helped his Apcef Brasilia team capture the 2004 and 2005 state championships, with the same squad finishing fourth at nationals. He received his French Baccalaureate in 2005 with honors.

¡°Thomas will bring a very good arm-swing to the outside position and continue to improve our depth at the outside hitter position. He is a very passionate player with a local connection to Penn State men¡¯s volleyball.¡±

Joe Sunder is a 6-7 middle hitter from Greensburg, Pa. He is a four-time volleyball letterwinner at Hempfield Area High School outside of Pittsburgh and was named the 2007 WPIAL AAA Most Valuable Player. He helped his Spartan squad to a 12-4 record last season while recording 158 digs, 71 blocks and 199 kills. During his junior season in 2006, he recorded 65 digs, 175 blocks and 278 kills while aiding the squad to a 14-3 overall mark. A member of the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Club, Sunder also earned WPIAL section 1 first team honors in basketball. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and Who¡¯s Who Among American High School Students.

¡°Joe will be a solid contributor to the program sooner rather than later. His rapid scholastic improvement over the year bodes well for him. With his jump, quickness and overall athletic ability, we believe he will develop into a very good outside hitter in his collegiate career.¡±

Jesse Wagner is a 5-9 libero from State College, Pa. A three-year varsity letterwinner for the Little Lions, Wagner aided the squad to the PIAA AAA state championship tournament and an overall record of 20-2. He also helped the squad to four consecutive district championships. A member of the Nittany Elite Volleyball Club, Wagner led the squad in digs in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons while also acting as a member of the National Honor Society and the High Honor Roll.

¡°Jesse¡¯s greatest strength is his personality and work ethic. He provided a stabilizing force for the Little Lions this year and greatly improved his ball-handling skills and defensive abilities. He is a teammate that others will want to play hard for and one who will work hard for them.¡±

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