Coach: Mark Pavlik (15th season, 339-101)
2008 record: 30-1, 11-1 (EIVA champions, NCAA champions)
Top returning players: Seniors Max Holt (6’9”, MB), Ryan Sweitzer (6’5”, Opp.), Jay Stauffer (6’4”, OH), junior Max Lipsitz (6’7”, MB), sophomore Dennis Del Valle (5’8”, Lib.)
Outlook: The defending NCAA champions suffered a big loss when 2008 Volleyball co-player of the year Matt Anderson turned pro with a year of eligibility left. But word on the street is the Nittany Lions are even better than last year thanks to an impressive returning group, headlined by talented middles Holt and Lipsitz and dynamic libero Del Valle, and a pair of newcomers in redshirt freshman setter Edgardo Goas (6’5”; nee Gonzalez) and George Mason transfer Will Price (6’5”, Opp., Jr.). “I think we will be pretty explosive on offense,” said Pavlik. “The real question mark is how long will it take the offense to have that feel of consistency with Edgardo setting and Will in there?” Advice: Keep an eye on both Goas and Price.

Coach: Alan Knipe (9th season, 155-89)
2008 record: 23-7, 18-4 (MPSF regular-season champions,
NCAA semifinalists)
Top returning players: Senior Dustin Watten (6’, Lib.), juniors Dean Bittner (6’7”, Opp.), Dan Alexander (6’7”, MB), Tommy Pestolesi (6’6”, OH), sophomores Mike Klipsch (6’4”, S), Josh Riley (6’3”, OH)
Outlook: Like Penn State, the 49’ers also got socked in the offensive pocketbook with the graduation of Volleyball co-player of the year Paul Lotman (587 kills on 1,169 swings, 60 aces). But Knipe, the 2008 Volleyball men’s college coach of the year, has plenty of firepower returning from last year’s national semifinalist. Bittner racked up 503 kills as a sophomore, while Alexander hit .503 and added 1.48 blocks per set. Klipsch is coming off a freshman campaign where he was named MPSF freshman of the year.

Coach: John Kosty (3rd season, 19-33)
2008 record: 16-11, 12-10 (MPSF tournament qualifier)
Top returning players: Senior Brandon Williams (6’6”, MB), juniors Kawika Shoji (6’3”, S), Evan Romero (6’7”, Opp.), Garrett Werner (6’7”, MB), sophomores Spencer McLachlin (6’7”, OH), Jordan Inafuku (6’, Lib.)
Outlook: Stanford made a major push forward in 2008 with a 13-win improvement from Kosty’s first season. The Cardinal’s well-regarded recruiting classes from 2006 and 2007 are starting to take shape. And here’s the scary part. Freshmen Erik Shoji (6’, Lib.), Brad Lawson (6’7”, OH, 2008 Volleyball Fab 50 captain) and Gus Ellis (6’6”, MB) could all make immediate impacts, according to Kosty. Passing will be a major strength for the Cardinal. “This is our best passing lineup since the early 90s,” said Kosty. Taking that next step, after last year’s 13-win improvement, is high on the priority list. “This is the time to do it,” said Kosty. “I think we have the core personnel to make a real run.”

Coach: John Speraw (7th season, 112-72)
2008 record: 16-15, 11-11 (MPSF tournament qualifier)
Top returning players: Seniors Jon Steller (6’7”, Opp.), Taylor Wilson (6’7”, OH), Brent Asuka (5’11”, Lib.), Ryan Ammerman (6’9”, S), Nick Spittle (5’9”, Lib.), junior Cole Reinholm (6’4”, OH), sophomores Anthony Spittle (6’1”, S), Cory Yoder (6’3”, OH), Jordan DuFault (6’4”, OH), Kevin Carroll (6’4”, OH), Kevin Wynne (6’7”, MB)
Outlook: A number of observers peg the Anteaters as one of the most improved teams in the MPSF heading into the season. UC Irvine returns six starters off a team that had six players average 2.00 or more kills per set, led by Wilson (3.80 kills in limited duty) and Steller (3.36). Asuka, the program’s all-time digs leader, is one of the top liberos in the nation. Speraw also likes his setting situation with Anthony Spittle, Ammerman and Australia native Nick Goldsbrough-Reardon (6’5”, Sr.), who who sat out last year after transferring from the Australian National University. Freshman Austin D’Amore could pay immediate dividends along with redshirt freshman opposite Carson Clark (6’5”). “I don’t know if we have one thing we do incredibly well, but we do a lot of things well,” said Speraw.

Coach: Al Scates (47th season, 1,171-237)
2008 record: 17-14, 12-10 (MPSF tournament qualifier)
Top returning players: Seniors Matt Wade (6’5”, S), Sean O’Malley (6’9:, OH), Ryan Ratelle (6’4”, Opp.),  D.J. Stromath (6’7”, MB), juniors Garrett Muagututia (6’5”, OH), Kevin Ker (6’1”, S)
Outlook: Depth will not be a problem for the Bruins this season. Ker and Wade give Scates multiple options at setter. O’Malley (MVP of the fall Calgary tournament that UCLA won) and Muagututia are strong on the outside. Three freshmen could contribute off the bat. Kyle Caldwell (6’8”, Opp.) will step in on the right side, while Nick Vogel (6’9”) and Wes Dunlap (6’7”) are showing promise in the middle. Ratelle and Stromath will help on the right and in the middle, respectively. “I like this team a lot,” said Scates. “I don’t think we have any weaknesses. I’m optimistic about all of our teams, but this is the most optimistic I’ve been in awhile.” Senior middle Jamie Diefenbach is now a member of the UCLA men’s basketball team. The graduation of All-American libero Tony Ker paves the way for sophomore Tom Hastings (5’10”).

Coach: Marv Dunphy (26th season, 469-184)
2008 record: 17-11, 12-10 (MPSF tournament champions, NCAA finalist)
Top returning players: Seniors Paul Carroll (6’9”, Opp.), Mark Hulse (6’8”, MB), Matt McKee (6’6”, Opp.), sophomores Cory Riecks (6’8”, OH), Kasey Crider (6’5”, S) Tyler Jaynes (6’9”, MB)
Outlook: Pepperdine has many different storylines heading into 2009. For starters, standout opposite Paul Carroll is back after averaging 6.54 kills per set (.390 hitting) in 2008. The Waves will be hurt by the absence of 6’4” senior outside J.D. Schleppenbach (3.01 kills), who is out for the year after undergoing labrum surgery in November. The loss of All-American setter Jonathan Winder (2007 Volleyball men’s college player of the year) is also significant. Sophomore Crider will take over the setting position. Pepperdine did gain in the middle with BYU transfer Rodnei Santos (6’6”, Jr.), who suffered a torn deltoid muscle in a fall tournament in Canada. “We have some holes to fill,” said Dunphy. “We’re a work in progress. We’re yet to be determined.” Riecks started all 28 matches last year as a true freshman (3.22 kills). The libero position is currently a question mark for the Waves.

Coach: Bill Ferguson (3rd season, 25-32)
2008 record: 13-16, 10-12 (MPSF tournament qualifier)
Top returning players: Seniors Luke Morris (6’2”, Lib.), C.J. Schellenberg (6’7”, Opp.),  junior Hunter Current (6’8”, MB), sophomores Austin Zahn (6’8”, MB), Murphy Troy (6’8”, OH), Riley McKibbin (6’2”, S), Sean Dennis (6’4”, Opp.), Tri Bourne (6’5”, OH)
Outlook: Ferguson’s highly-rated recruiting classes have started to come to the forefront. A roster already loaded with young talent will be further bolstered by the contributions of freshman Tony Ciarelli (6’5”) on the outside. “This group understands the little things they need to do to win,” said Ferguson. “We’ve got a bunch of kids that are used to winning. They think they are supposed to win. They expect to win.” Sophomore McKibbin takes over the setting chores with the graduation of veteran Jimmy Killian.

Coach: Shawn Patchell (3rd season, 48-11)
2008 record: 25-5, 18-4 (MPSF finalist)
Top returning players: Juniors Andrew Stewart (6’6”, OH), Joel Silva (6-2, Lib.), Yamil Perez (6’1”, S), Reed Chilton (6’3”, S)
Outlook: The Cougars were greatly affected by graduation, losing the likes of veterans Ivan Perez (4.32 kills, 2.23 digs, .321 hitting), Russell Holmes (2.66 kills, 1.52 blocks, .454 hitting), Trent Sorensen (2.18 kills, 1.25 blocks, .381 hitting), and Jonathan Charette (.329 kills, 1.25 blocks). But Stewart (2.46 kills), Yamil Perez (slowed by ankle injuries last year) and Venezuelan Olympic team member Silva do return. Perez and Chilton give BYU a pair of experienced setters. As of press time, BYU had no seniors on its roster. 

Coach: Jeff Campbell (12th season, 166-150)
2008 record: 23-7, 17-5 (MPSF semifinalist)
Top returning players: Seniors Eric Vance (6’4”, OH), juniors Mike Gaudino (6’4”, OH), Kevin McKniff (6’7”, MB), Ali’i  Keohohou (5’7”, Lib.), sophomore Cody Loe (6’8”, MB)
Outlook: The Matadors are coming off one of their most successful seasons in recent years. But Northridge must replace two key pieces to the pie in graduated veterans Travis Bluemling and Isaac Kneubuhl. True freshman Matt Stork could be the answer for the vacant setting position, while sophomore Tanner Nua (6’8”), who played some last year, is a strong candidate on the right side. Vance is coming off an All-American junior season. “Eric was by far our best attacker in the front and back row,” said Campbell, who is impressed with his team’s serving ability. “He’ll kind of be our go-to guy this year.”

Coach: Dan Friend (5th season, 65-56)
2008 record: 21-10, 7-5 (MIVA semifinalist)
Top returning players: Seniors Billy Sahagian (6’7”, MB), Alex Vigansky (6’9”, MB), Drew Pickering (5’10”, OH), Nick Perakes (6’1”, Lib.), junior Mike Iandolo (6’7”, S), sophomore Brian Muesenfechter (6’7”, OH-Opp.)
Outlook: The Flyers have six starters back from last year’s squad that lost to Ball State in the MIVA semifinals, including all-conference selections Sahagian, Vigansky and Iandolo. But the Flyers must replace graduated Jared Dayton’s output. Friend said junior Nathan Klaas (6’7”) will likely be the answer at that open outside position. “This is the first class I brought in,” said Friend. “A lot of these guys have been together for four years now. They have great chemistry. They know what level they need to play at in order to get where we need to go.”