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Changing Role
Feb. 10, 2009
By Larry Watts Jay Stauffer saw the writing on the wall. Even though he was the starting outside hitter during Penn State's drive to the national men's volleyball championship last year, he was well aware of what was in store for him regarding his future playing days for the Nittany Lions. Although he was one of three captains on the squad, the 6-foot-4 Stauffer knew his leadership role carried no guarantee of playing time with it. And through practice, he certainly knew the capabilities of Joe Sunder and Will Price, who were on the bench serving redshirt seasons. Sunder was a 6-7 powerfully built true freshman outside hitter with raw talent. Price was a 6-5 opposite who was now learning the ropes at Penn State after spending two years at rival George Mason, where he was named the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association newcomer of the year as a redshirt freshman. Stauffer could have taken his ball and gone home to Columbia, Pa. After all, why spend your final season back on the bench after helping take your team to its ultimate goal? "I knew my role was going to change," he says, "but that seems to be my story every year. When I came in here as a redshirt freshman, my job was to push those guys hard in practice so they would get better. I'm basically doing that again this year, but now I also have the leadership responsibilities. "Joe and Will are great physical talents and they can both jump through the roof. You can't teach height and they both have that advantage on me, but what I'm being counted on is keeping the team focused and bringing stability into the game when they need it." Stauffer started all 31 matches for the Nittany Lions last season. He posted 67 kills, 49 blocks and 148 digs, second highest on the squad. A finance and economics major, he was named to the Academic All-EIVA squad. Through the Nittany Lions' 8-0 start to this campaign, he has already been held out of the lineup in two of the matches. "When you have a team with new guys at some positions, sometimes it's more beneficial to keep them out there and continue to work on that chemistry," Stauffer says diplomatically. "Getting that experience of playing well together at this point of the season is very important and it should pay off in May when it really counts. "These young guys have skills I can't bring to the table, but if I can help prepare them, that will make our team so much better. I enjoy working with the younger guys and teaching them what I've learned so far. And to tell you the truth, I have no problem with that role." Stauffer admits he has never been the go-to player for a big kill. His main asset has always been his passing. "I just try to be as consistent as possible," he says. "When things don't seem to be going our way, coach (Mark Pavlik) knows he can look to me to go in, settle them down and get us back on the right track. Sometimes the energy I provide can make a big difference." While one of his friends decided not to return for a fifth season, Stauffer took a look at the bigger picture. "You have to realize what you want in your world," he says. "I still felt like I had a lot to contribute to the team. Maybe I'm not starting, but there are many other ways I can be a leader for this team. "As a captain, I'm a link between the players and the coaches. I make sure everyone is taking care of things both on and off the court. It's really important to take this team under your wing and show them what Penn State volleyball is all about and what needs to be done to be successful, especially with the experience we had last year. Everyone is out to get us now." Although the Nittany Lions have a rich men's volleyball tradition, Stauffer says they didn't always have the respect of many schools, especially those on the West Coast. "The California teams think because they come from where the sun and sand is they should always win," he says. "Penn State was a regular in the Final Four, but those teams would always say we had an easy schedule. We showed them a different Penn State team last year and we sent them a message that we're a legitimate volleyball school." And the Nittany Lions had plenty of fun along the way, thanks in large part to Stauffer's parents, who own a farm in Lancaster County. Hand-made signs, which were painted on the backs of seed signs, were common sights along the tournament trail. "My father started out with two or three of those signs," Stauffer says with a laugh. "By the end of the year, there must have been at least 25 of those signs. Every player had his own sign. We really had a lot of fun with them. "Last year was the most fun I have ever had playing volleyball and I'll never forget that experience. I know what that feeling of being a national champion is like at the end of the year and I want that feeling again. Besides, the (Penn State) girls have already won back-to-back national titles and we have to match them or we're going to hear all about it." And after graduation in May, Stauffer will be heading to Bates White, an economic consulting firm located just over a block from the White House. Stauffer served an internship with the company last summer. "My family is already telling me I should just walk down the street and give them some advice on how to straighten out the economy," he says. But Stauffer doesn't see any volleyball in his immediate future. "After five years, I kind of need a break," he says. "It takes a toll on your body and my knees aren't that great anymore. Maybe once I'm in the D.C. area, I'll see how much I miss it and there could be some coaching in my future. If I want to succeed in the consulting business, I'll have to go back for my master's and I definitely have enough volleyball knowledge to help coach somewhere while I'm furthering my education." |
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