14 I WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010 Ex-Lion Anderson succeeding in pros By Emily Kaplan COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER For much of the Nittany Lions' match against Ohio State on Sunday afternoon, a visitor sat in the top row—and _ _ _ couldn't sit still Matt Anderson was shifty, contin ually rearranging his legs, his lanky 6-foot-10 frame clearly uncomfort able in the con straining bleach- ' ers of Rec Hall. Anderson's c--.l° ' comfort zone is on the court, where he spent three Anderson (NEWS VOLLEYBAL dominant seasons as the Penn State men's volleyball team's premier player. As a junior in 2008 when he was named the AVCA National Co-Player of the Year the outside hitter helped steer the program to its second national championship. But just two months after Anderson and Lions mugged f:,r the cameras in celebration of their upset of West Coast power Pepperdine in the NCAA champi onship match, the West Seneca. N.Y., native made a surprising announcement. He had signed a two-year, six-figure contract with the Hyundai Capital Skywalkers of the Korean League and would forgo his senior season at Penn State. It's been almost two cars inrc his startling jump from Happ:, Valley to Hyundai. and Andersen who spent the first week of the Matt Albrecht competes in the r.,g,t , bar in Penn State's meet Saturday at Rec Hai; "Of course I wonder what would have happened if I stayed. But I try not to think about it." Matt Anderson former Penn State outside hitter Korean League's offseason in State College visiting his former teammates seems to have few regrets. 0t course I wonder what would have happened if I stayed, - said Anderson, who will spend the rest of his summer with the U.S. National Team in Europe at the World Championships. "But I try not to think about it. It was a deci sion I made. And it was a really hard decision, but now I am focused on my professional career" Voileybali-wise, Anderson's pro ijeional career is going exactly ;ks planned. In his debut season. hc recc )rded 2.9 las per set on .419 ling in leading the Skywalkers first-place finish in the regular season. the court, he's been doing p..,it." . said his mother, Nancy !nderson. - He knew what he sir,4lled up for, and he knew he was it there to have good seasons. the culture is a lot different out there. and I think that was harder than he thought." The sport is a business-like ion in Korea. about unity, regimens aid discipline. ...,,,,d Albrecht brings positive .attitui , -,.£..,,. .„, ..,,..., By Kevin Kline COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Whenever Nick Grant has a bad day in the gym, the freshman knows Matt Albrecht will soon be there to pick up his mood. "He always comes up MEN'S and slaps me on the chest and goes, 'Smile, buddy' GYMNASTICS Grant said, "and it gets me As one of the more vocal gymnasts on the team, and with several of his fellow upper classmen battling injuries throughout the year Albrecht has had to step into a bigger leadership role this season. But the junior hasn't been able to totally avoid the injury bug himself. As a concussion and thumb injury kept him out of three dual meets this season, Albrecht continued to give his teammates advice from the bench during meets, with his cheers often loud enough to be heard throughout Rec Hall. "We have a lot of guys who are reserved and quiet. and Matt can be that way, but he's certainly not opposed to getting excit ed and letting his emotions be worn on his sleeve.' coach Randy Jepson said. "He's just got a big personality, and he's a great guy to have around." Apphcation Deadline: March 31, 2010 Nast Off w“ft Spate Grant Scholarsbips and Fellows's*ls Sylvia Stein Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship $4.000 awards will be given to advanced mdergraduate Penn State students studying nce, mathematics. engineering, or technology. NASA Space Grant Graduate Research Fellowship wo-year fellowships in the amount of $5,000 year will be awarded to eighteen Penn State graduate students. To apply, please visit http://pa.spacegrant.org For additional information, email spaceg,rantri?'psu.edu or call 814-865-2535 Students must he U.S. citizens. All eligible students are invited to apply, with award emphasis on. hut not limited to, the bellowing colleges: Earth and Mineral Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health and Human Development, Liberal Arts, and Eberly College of Science SP O Former Lions outside hitter Matt Anderson (right) looks to pass in Pen Hall's South Gym. In his three years at Penn State, Anderson tallied 1,21._ • player of the year in 2008. Anderson left after his junior season to p;a. t It's volleyball 24 7 said. The team including some players in their 30s who are mar ried and have children - - lives together in a dorm-like facility. If a player wants to do something socially, he must first clear it with the team's officials. And Anderson, who speaks very little Korean, has an interpreter along side him wherever he goes. But, of course, there are the perks. Anderson. nicknamed "Super Matt - by his adoring Skywalker fans, has gained Despite collegiate gymnastics being mainly a team sport. there is still plenty of focus on individual routines, which leaves many opportunities for the gymnasts to become dejected with their performances. And with 10 true freshmen on the team this season, the need for an optimistic older teammate like Albrecht is especially impor tant. "Sometimes these guys get down on themselves, and it's good to keep the atmosphere positive and looking toward the future, - Albrecht said. outcomes This season is just Albrecht's second competitive season. He arrived at Penn State from Canada after turning 21 and had to exhaust a year of eligibility under NCAA rules. He is a sophomore academically but a junior in eligibility His workload increased this year, as he's regularly competed in five events in each meet. In Saturday's loss at home to Oklahoma, Albrecht set career highs on floor exercise. pommel horse and parallel bars. With a year under his belt and getting used to the rigors of the American colle giate gymnastics season, Albrecht's improvement in year two has coincided t - 7 , r42x. celebrity status in South Korea Anderson After matches, girls will brim; Anderson presents everythin2, from embroidered sweatshirts h flowers to his favorite foods. One time, Nancy Anderson received a letter from a yourri. female fan that said. "Thank von for sharing your son with us.- "It's a little weird sometinp Nancy said. "The first time I v.erii out there, people kept taking p 4• tures of me and my husband. I swore I was going to see them on the Internet with the caption. AI:, future in-laws.' If you work happy. then you get better nu,: kH COLLEGIAN .4 , - A ,m CcCegian , IC.lnci: March 16 in Rec I named naticrial co- C pital Skywalkers. hen Anderson re'oirned to S;;ltt. week, he was just from urilate New • 1:y-going personali- Iv t"• 11.11 in Roc HP.il to practice 'ith Inc current team .Tong, as per CI 4 1 (TM 4..." t),l i~?JYI :_n ,J~? MEM Nan, i liken - ( like \ iit ',t}tect team cap • ~ , •:,kmmates, as they 1 - cturning from the • ),„ in tour weeks, \\ThicU - a't 12071 ior vote NC A.A Jepoit s;A, Albrec - ,1 hc may be the leading candidate. v, nether or not he earns the captain 1;1!)c! • •)i , un,alge his role on the team. • "Fir defantcis, looking to be a leader again next ye: v,qiether I be captain or not, - Albrecht said - Tlie captain role is just a po.-,ition, like to be a guy that .thes ti; l• • • cl• • •i• ,11-,‘ ill be easy when it Cori A iii Xok - It tiler. • ')P one person that I'd vote for, he him. - Grant said. is quicker and •tits•." coach Mark lie was still the in our *Tn. exkso49@psu.edu ;' has battled died upon a little .'norm," Jepson ,t) handle that !I:st year- being Warren ' Of injuries and is c,son, Albrecht will - iiJr on next year's r kwkso69@psu.edu
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