With the return of seven players that contributed greatly to last year's team, the Penn State men's volleyball team will look to reach its ultimate goal this season: an NCAA championship appearance.

"Our first goal when we start out the season is to win the EIVA and represent the East Coast in the NCAA tournament," senior setter Travis Foltz said. "One thing we have discussed between the team is ultimately winning a national championship and becoming the first team on the East Coast to win a championship out west."

After winning their ninth consecutive EIVA league championship last season, the Nittany Lions fell in the NCAA semifinals to the eventual tournament champions UC-Irvine. With much of the talent and experience returning from last year's team, the Lions know that their expectations can only be greater.

"We have players who would stack up well with other top players at their positions," Penn State coach Mark Pavlik said. "We can be considered to be in the top five on paper."

This year's squad returns 10 players from last season's undefeated EIVA championship team and welcomes six newcomers. Freshman libero Dennis Del Valle will be forced into the spotlight early, starting at the position that was vacated by 2007 graduate Ryan Walthall. However, Pavlik believes that all of his freshmen will benefit the team when called upon.

"Our freshmen are going to have a wide range of impact in games and practice," Pavlik said. "They bring an enthusiasm to our team. It's a breath of fresh air."

With no lack of talent or experience, this year's team has no excuse to not repeat as EIVA champions and receive yet another automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in May. However, there are some things that Pavlik thinks could pose a problem during the Lions' run at a championship.

"One area we need to improve is in our serving," Pavlik said. "We need to be more consistent. We can't give away points with our serves."

The Lions kick off the 2008 season on Jan. 3 in Honolulu at the Outrigger Invitational. In a three-day span they will play some of the nation's best teams in Hawaii, Ball State and UCLA. All three have made multiple appearances in the NCAA tournament.

"The teams that we will play in Hawaii all have a physical style different from ours on the East Coast," Foltz said. "We have to be able to match that physical play that we don't get to see much here on the East Coast."

The Lions still remain the only team to win an NCAA men's volleyball championship east of the Mississippi after winning the title in 1994. No East Coast team has ever won the championship out west, but with the title game being held in Sacramento, Calif. this season, the Lions will have a shot.

"It's really going to come down to how well they play in critical games," Pavlik said. "If we stay injury-free, develop consistency, and pass and block well, we can put ourselves in position to do something special."