Looking for a place to start to breakdown the 2013 edition of the Lancaster Bible men's volleyball team? 

How about experience? Six of the eight team members are upperclassmen, with three seniors and three juniors. Skill? They have that too as they return their top two hitters from last season as well as the starting setter and libero. 

A key question, as it has been for the past three seasons, is can the group convert all of the talent into victories on the court? A quick check of the past three seasons shows lots of talent, but varying success on the court. While the team has been generally close off of the court, junior Alex Bahn sees something different with this year's team.

"I have never been on a team that understands each other as much as we do," Bahn said. "We have been through and overcome a lot of obstacles so far this season, so any challenges we face now we will be prepared for."

One of the obstacles the Chargers have overcome is the lack of players. After the non-traditional fall season, the team thought they were heading into the spring with 11 or 12 guys. As the season approached however, the team began to shrink for various reasons, leaving just eight players. One of the eight is Corey Leonard, a sophomore on the men's basketball team. He won't be available until late February, leaving the Chargers with seven players to start the season. Though they wish they had more players, the small number is growing on Bahn and his teammates. 

"I think we will come as a surprise to many teams," Bahn said. "They will see our small number of players and think we aren't that good. We are going to fight hard on every point because we are the guys who want to play and give everything to the program."

Other returners include junior Joey Brennen (team-high 153 kills and 80 blocks last season), senior A.J. Longacre (149 kills, 53 blocks), senior Keith Mitzel (53 kills, 11 blocks), Bahn (561 assists, 145 digs, team-high 36 aces), senior Mitch Demko (38 kills), junior libero, Andy Nguyen (238 digs) and sophomore Paul Fulbright (seven digs). 

Second year Head Coach Evelyn Long said she envisions Longacre and Brennen playing the inside as they combined for 133 blocks last season, while Demko and Mitzel will be outside. Bahn will once again hold down the setting, while Nguyen will move around as the libero.

The squad kicks off the 2013 season on Saturday at the Penn St. Altoona Invitational. They will take on national powerhouse Juniata at 1 p.m. and face the host Nittany Lions at 3 p.m. LBC's first home match of the season will be Wednesday, January 23 as they take on rival Cairn at 7 p.m.

Season Notes:
-The Chargers finished the season with a 6-17 record. They won eight matches, but their two victories against Gallaudet did not technically count because the Bison were not a varsity club last season (they are varsity this year). 

-There are just six teams competing in men's volleyball in the NEAC this season, thus whoever wins the NEAC will not receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. An at-large bid could still be granted.

-The NEAC teams include, Lancaster Bible, Gallaudet, Keuka, SUNYIT, Wells and Cazenovia. The team with the highest winning percentage after five games will host the NEAC Playoffs which will be Saturday, April 13. 

-Gallaudet and Keuka will be fielding varsity men's volleyball teams for the first time in school history, while Wells is in just its second season as a varsity team.

-The Chargers were 0-3 in five-set matches last season as they went the distance with Bard, Hilbert and Newbury. 

-LBC's home dates this season are: January 23 (Cairn), January 25 (Gallaudet, non-conference meeting), March 2 (NEAC Crossover with Keuka, SUNYIT), March 5 (Washington Adventist), March 19 (Senior Night, Penn St. Altoona). All matches except Keuka (2 p.m.) and SUNYIT (6 p.m.) will begin at 7 p.m. All home matches will take place at Horst Athletic Center.