After transferring from a small college to a major university, Jon Sherrick found it easy to adjust to the new atmosphere thanks to old acquaintances.

Sherrick, Penn State men's volleyball middle hitter, came to University Park last year after spending his first two years of college at Saint Francis (Pa.) The transition was easy for Sherrick because of two friends and teammates from high school who now play volleyball for Penn State.

Setter Luke Murray and outside hitter Jay Stauffer were Sherrick's teammates at Hempfield High School in rural Landisville. When the group graduated, Murray and Stauffer left for the volleyball powerhouse of the East Coast, Penn State. The three were close throughout high school and leaving them after high school was difficult for Sherrick.

"I started playing when I met Jay as a sophomore," Sherrick said. "I was tall, and he just convinced me to play on the volleyball team."

Sherrick learned the game slowly, figuring out his place on the court and listening to the guidance of head coach Mike Vogel, who stressed learning the fundamentals of the game correctly.

"Coach Vogel was a very good high school coach," Sherrick said. "He taught me mostly how to manage myself during stressful situations. He taught me a lot about how to handle pressure, not necessarily the skills, but how to manage yourself."

During the three years Sherrick spent playing high school volleyball, he became a critical part of a dominant Hempfield team. He, Murray and Stauffer led the Black Knights to three consecutive state championships from 2002 to 2004 and an 85-2 record in those seasons. In his senior season, Sherrick earned first-team all-league honors in the Lancaster-Lebanon League and was second-team all-state.

With all the on-court success the teammates shared, it was their experiences outside of the gym that brought them closer together. The three spent time outside of practice getting to know each other better and building bonds of friendship.

Stauffer said every now and then Murray, Sherrick and other teammates came to his family's farm and help him do his work. Their time together off the court led to closer team play on it, Stauffer said.

After leaving Hempfield, Sherrick saw success in his freshman year in college. He finished his first year at St. Francis with 99 kills, 17 service aces and 54 blocks, leading all rookies in those categories. His .336 hitting percentage was second on the team. Sherrick saw similar success his sophomore year.

Despite his play, Sherrick was not happy at St. Francis. He said the small-school atmosphere wasn't right for him, and so he sought a transfer.

"I wanted to play [volleyball] at Penn State, but that wasn't the main reason I transferred," Sherrick said.

When he arrived at Penn State, Murray and Stauffer greeted him. The old teammates spent time together as they did in high school. Sherrick became Murray's roommate, which helped him acclimate to the lifestyle in State College. Stauffer pushed him to try out for the team.

"I told him we were short at the middle position," Stauffer said, "and that he should give it a shot."

After Sherrick made the squad, he found himself in a familiar position. He was a new face on an already successful team and to fit in, he needed to adjust his training habits. Once again, Murray and Stauffer lent their hands to their old teammate. They worked out with Sherrick over the summer to get him accustomed to Penn State's style of play. Sherrick said their biggest help came through weight lifting and conditioning, and teaching him to manage his time.

Sherrick has what few new players on any team can claim: a pre-existing connection with the established stars. The experiences the old teammates had over the years results in a better understanding of their individual play, Stauffer said. As their collegiate careers continue, each teammate expects their friendships to grow and their play to improve.