APennStateVolleyballFamily:ThestoryofAaronandPeterRussell

By:MadiShutt

TheRussellBrothers

Whenitcomestotwobrotherswhoplaythesamesportatthesameuniversity,

almostimmediatelythequestion,“whichisbetter?”comestomind.

ForPennStatevolleyballplayers,PeterandAaronRussell,itisnotaboutwhocan

spiketheballharderorjumphigher,itisaboutfamily,inspiration,andloveforthegame.

PeterandAaronwereborn15monthsaparttoStewartandMarianRussellin

EllicottCity,Maryland.

Eventhoughtheyareonlymonthsapartthereisnogettingthesebrothersmixedup.

Peter,a6-foot-5super-senior,isoutgoingandcantalktoanyone.Aaronisa6-foot-9senior

whoismorerelaxedandreserved.

Theycurrentlyresideinaone-bedroomapartmentinStateCollege,whichAaron

keepscleanwhentheyaren’tinMarylandsharingabunkbed.

TheFamily

Fromthemomenttheywereborn,PeterandAaronbeganattendingvolleyball

events.

BothStewandMarianplayedvolleyballgrowingupandStewwasstillheavily

involvedplayingmen’sbeachvolleyball.

Beforehavingchildren,StewattendedPennStateUniversitywherehewalkedonto

themen’svolleyballteamasajuniorandmetalumniMarkPavlik.

Afterplayingthreeyears,Stewwasreadytograduate.StewandPavstayedclose

whiletheyworkedcampsandclinicstogether,untilStewmovedawaytostartafamily.

“Wedidourownthingsforawhile,butwetriedtostayintouch,”saidStew.

“Anytimewewouldconnect,itwasanoldfriendskindathing,wewouldpickrightback

up.”

PavknewthatStewwouldstillremaininhislife,evenifitwererunningintoone

anotheratvolleyballevents.

“Wewouldseeeachotheratalumnieventsandwhenthekidsstartedtoplay,I

reallytooknotice,”saidCoachPavgrinning.“Thekidswouldalwaysbehittingtheball

aroundafterStew’smatchesandrunningaround.”

Stewcreditshisloveofthegameandskillstotheteammatesandcoachinghehadat

PennStatesayinghewouldn’thavegottentowhereheiswithoutanyofthem.

OncePeterandAaronwereborn,itbecamealargeresponsibilityofMariantorun

thehouse;someonehadtokeeptheboysinorder.

NotonlyweretherePeterandAaron,butalsothreemoreboys,Samuel,18,Tim,15,

andPaul,12,cameshortlyafter.

“Peoplearealwayslikepoormom,fiveboys,”saidPeterlaughing.“Momjusthadto

acceptthatweweregoingtododumbstuff.”

Mariandealtwiththingslikeboysrunninghomecryingbecausetheythoughtitwas

agoodideatohaveaswordfightwithsticks.

However,shewasstillveryintouchwithvolleyball.

WhenPeterandAarongotabitolder,theywoulddividemomanddadandplaytwo

ontwovolleyballmatches.

“PartofthereasontheypickedupthevolleyballwasbecausemywifeandIplayed,”

explainedStew.“Theyknewitfromthebeginning.”

TheBrothers

“Hehasbeenmybestfriendsincethedayhewasborn,”saidPeterregardinghisand

Aaron’srelationship.

Whenitcametoplayingsportswiththeneighbors,Peteralwaysmadesurehis

youngerbrotherwasincluded.

“Aaronisveryathleticbecausehewasalwaysplayingwiththeolderkids,”said

father,Stew.“Peterwouldalwaysaskifhimandhisbrothercouldplay.”

Astheycontinuedtogrowup,Peter,22,andAaron,21,spentalmosteveryminute

together.Whiletheydidhavetheiroccasionalsiblingfights,nothingseemedtokeepthe

twoapart.

“Irememberthisonetimemymomtoldusnottogointoaponddownthestreet,

butAaron,oneofmyfriends,andIwenttothrowrocksinit.Wehadeventuallyhadthrown

alltherocksandsentourfriendintogetmore.Unfortunately,hefellinthepondandwe

triedtocomeupwithsomeelaboratestoryabouthowhefellinapuddletotellourmom.

Butsheknewwewerelying,”Petersaidshakinghishead.

Liketherestoftheirlives,whenitcametovolleyball,nothingwasdifferent.The

boyswereinseparable.

Beforeenteringinmiddleschool,Stewandclosefamilyfriend,RicLucas,would

bringboysfromaroundtheneighborhoodtogethertoplayvolleyball.

Theproblemwaswhenenteringmiddleandhighschool;theschooldistrictdidnot

havemen’svolleyballteams.Thesolutionwastoplayclubvolleyballoutsideofschool.

“Ourdadcoachedus,”saidPeter.“Itwasnicetohavethewholefamilyaround.”

Likeeveryotheraspectintheirlife,theboysplayedtogetheronthesameteamand

likealways,Aaronwasplayingupwiththebiggerkids.

“Hisfriendsweremyfriends,”saidAaronconfidently.“Wealwaysplayedtogether

andIthinkplayingupanagegroupdefinitelyhelpedmydevelopment.”

OncePeterenteredCentennialHighSchool,playingvolleyballincollegebeganto

sparkaninterest.

Aftercoachingtheclubteamforyears,Stewtookabackseatwhenitcametothe

collegedecision-making.

“Iwashandsoff,Ididn’twannainfluencehisdecision,”saidStewregardingPeters

recruitment.“Ididn’twanttobebias,soIgavehiminformationandhelpedhimwithwhat

questionstoask,butthatwasaboutit.”

Whenrecruitingstarted,CoachMarkPavlikfromPennStatewasveryinterested.

“Hehadgreatinstincts,”saidPennStatemen’svolleyballCoachMarkPavlik.“He

understoodteamleadershipandworkinghardandthatmademewanttorecruitPete.”

WhileeveryonewasexcitedaboutPetergoingtocollege,itwouldbethefirsttime

theboyswouldbeseparatedonandoffthecourt.

Finally,PeterhadmadeadecisionandPennState,hisfather’salmamater,wouldbe

thecollegeofhischoice.

“Ifeltcomfortable,”saidPeter.“IsawhowmuchPennStateinfluencedmydadand

CoachPavisgreat.”

SoasPeterstartedhisjourneyasafreshmanatPennState,Aaronbeganhis

adventureatchoosingacollegeandthistimeStewwasevenmorehands-off.

Aaronwasbeingrecruitedbyalotofwestcoastteams,whichareknownfortheir

outstandingmen’svolleyballprograms,andofcoursebyCoachPavatPennState.

“EverydayIwouldgetacallfromPeter,askingifIhaddecidedwhereIwasgoingto

college,”saidAaronwithasmirk.

Itwasn’tuntilsenioryearwhilePeterwasawaythatAaronfinallymadehis

decision.

“Ireallywantedtoseethemcontinuetoplaytogether,”Stewadmitted.“Theyhave

somethingreallyspecial.”

AccordingtoPeter,youngerbrotherPaulplayedabigpartinthedecision.

“IthinkalotofthedecisioncamefromouryoungerbrotherPaul,”Petersaid

smiling.“HehadmentionedtoAaronthatbybeingatPennStatehe’dbeclosertohomeand

beabletoplaywithmeagain.”

AaronwouldbethenewestmemberoftheRussellfamilytoattendPennState.

“WeknewthatAaronwouldbesomethingspecial,”saidCoachPavnodding

contently.

OnceAaronandPeterbegancollege,theiryoungestbrotherPaultookaninterestin

thesport.

“Paulisverycompetitiveandathletic,”Aaronexplained.“Hecurrentlyisplayingina

recreationleaguewithgirls,buthehasn’treallydecidedwhetherhewillplayincollege.”

SamuelandTimhavetakenadifferentroutefocusinglessonvolleyballandmoreon

othersportsandactivities.

TheInspiration

HavingparentsthatbothplayvolleyballiskeytotheRussell’sloveofthegame.The

inspirationforPeterandAaronistheirfather.

“Mydadhelpedmeoutalot,whenIstartedplayingIplayedthesamepositionhe

did,”Aaronsaidshrugging.

StewnotonlywalkedontothePennStatemen’svolleyballteam,buthewasnamed

anAll-Americanhissenioryear.

“MydaddrovemetoworkhardbecauseIwasrecruitedandIknowhedidn’thave

thesameopportunity,”PetersaidlookingoutontheRecHallcourt.“Hewouldhaveloved

toplayfouryearsofvolleyballhere.”

Stewwouldgivetheboysadviceasbothacoachandafatherastheygrewup.Some

ofthisadvicehasstuckwiththemtothisday.

“Ialwaystoldthemtogiveyourbestandtrustgodwithalltherest,”Stewsaidabout

life.

Hisadviceinvolleyballstayedconsistentwiththistellingtheboysnomatterwhat

you’reupagainstgooutandgiveityourbest.

“Ihearhisadviceeveryday,Ithinkheiseveryone’skindarolemodel,buthehas

definitelyhadthemostinfluenceonmeasapersonandavolleyballplayer,”Aaronsaid

calmly.

NotonlyisStewarolemodel,butPeteristoo.

AaronlooksuptoPeterpartlybecausetheyalwaysdideverythingtogetherand

becauseofhissuccess.

“IalwayshadPeterthereandwealwaysdidthingstogether,”Aaronsaidrubbing

hisdarkbrownbeard.“AlotofwhatIdidgrowingupwasbecausePeterwasdoingthem.”

It’sironichowtheinspirationandsuccesshasallcomefromwithinthefamily.Peter

evenmentionedhowhisyoungestbrotherPaul,takesafterAaronandhimbecausethey

aretheoldest.

However,therootofinspirationcomesfromStew.

“Iowealottohim,”saidPeteradjustinghimselfonthebleacher.“Heisselflessand

humble.AndoneofthehardestworkingpeopleIknow.”

TheGame

TheinspirationfromStewhaspushedtheboystofollowintheirfather’sfootsteps.

Inhisfreshmanseason,Peterappearedineightmatchestotaling34kills,threeaces,and17

digs.

Hewentontoplayin23matcheshissophomoreyearandtallied126kills,eight

aces,57digsand24blocks.PeterwasalsonamedtheEasternIntercollegiateVolleyball

Association(EIVA)offensiveplayeroftheweekandtheMikeAndersonPlayerofthegame

twiceinthe2012season.

Hewouldgoontobenamedtothe2013EIVAChampionshipAll-Tournamentteam

andSecondTeamAll-EIVA.

InhisfinalseasonasaNittanyLion,Peterwentoutwithabangwithhisbrotherby

hisside.HewasnamedSecondTeamAll-EIVAandwasrankedthirdontheteamposting

285killsontheseason.

HewouldalsohavewhathethoughtwashisbestgameeveragainstLoyolainthe

nationalsemifinal.Peterposted15killsand10digs,butitcamedowntothefifthsetwhich

sethimapartfromeveryoneelseonthecourt.

DespiteaPennStateloss,CoachPavthoughtPeterplayedhisroleperfectlyandwas

everythingyouwouldwanttoseeinasenior.

“IgobacktoourgameagainstLoyolaandinthe5thsetPetegotus3digstogetus

backinthatgame,”saidCoachPavstaringintospace.“Heblockedwell,hisattackingwas

timelyandveryefficient.Itwaseverythingyou’dwanttoseeinaseniorsotheycouldwalk

outwiththeirheadheldhigh.”

CoachPavnotonlymentionedtheLoyolagame,buthesaidthatfinalfiveweeksof

Peter’sseniorseasonwaswhenheshinedandthoughthisperformancewasvery

underrated.

FromthestartofhiscareeratPennState,Aaronstoodout.Inhisfirstseasonhewas

namedFirstTeamAll-EIVA,EIVAplayeroftheweek,EIVAChampionshipAll-Tournament

Team,andlikehisbrotherawardedtheMikeAndersonPlayeroftheGameaward.Aaron

playedin28matchesposting203kills,92blocks,25aces,and44digs.

Overthenextseason,Aaronwouldbegivenmultipleawardsforbeingoutstanding

player.

InhisfinalseasonwithPeterin2014,Aarontallied421kills,69aces,200digs,and

46blocks.OnceagainhewasnamedanEIVAAll-Americanandnumerousplayerawards.

However,hisgreatestaccomplishmentmaybemakingthe2014U.S.men’snational

teamwherehewastheyoungestteammatetowinagoldmedal.

“IthinkAaron’sbestgamesarestillinfrontofhim,”explainedCoachPav.“Hehas

reallyworkedhardatbecominganoutsidehitterandisamajorpartoftheleadershiphere

atPennState.”

TheFuture

Astheymoveforwardintheircollegiateandvolleyballcareers,thingshavechanged.

Peterhasexhaustedhiseligibilityandtookthefallsemestertobeanassistant

undergraduatecoach.

Thisjobentailsthingslikemanaginginventory,organizingvideos,andcleaningout

closets.

“HeisalsolearninghowtoscoutwithvideowithColin[anassistantcoach],listento

videoreviewwithJay[anassistantcoach],andgetafeelforwhatgoesintocoaching

behindthescenes,”CoachPavsaidadjustinginhisseat.

However,CoachPavandStewagreethatPeter’snumberonegoalofthefall

semesterisschoolandfinishinghisdegree.

Ontheotherhand,Aaronisabouttoenterintothebiggestseasonofhisvolleyball

career.

AccordingtoCoachPav,Aaronwillbeoneof,ifnotthebestoutsidehitterinthe

country.Meaningeveryoneknowshewillgettheball,sothequestionwaitingtobe

answeredishowwillAaroncopewiththepressure.

“Thepressureofexpectationscanprohibitsuccess,”saidCoachPavinasofttone.

“HisbiggestrolewillbebeingthebestAaronRussellhecanbeandgivingtheteamallhe

caneveryday.”

ThiswillalsobethefirstseasonAaronisplayingatPennStatewithoutPeterbyhis

side.

“Give100%andpickupthedifference,”wastheadvicegiventotheboysfromtheir

father.

Stewhopestheboyswillbeabletostaytogetherinthenextchapteroftheirlives.

Heisamazedathowwelltheycomplimentoneanotherandhowinteractivetheir

relationshiphasbecomeovertheyears.

PeterisbeginninganewjourneyintocoachingandAaronisfinishinguphisfinal

seasonandsemesteratPennState.Whereverthebrothersendup,Icanassureyou,they

willneverbetoofarapart.

“Ithasbeena30-yearprocessformewatchingthefamilygrowandtheboysgrow,”

saidCoachPavslightlychokedup.“StewandMarianhavetheirhandsfilledwithallthe

boysbuttheydoagreatjob.”

Whoknows,maybeinafewyears,PaulwillbethenextRusselltoenterHappy

ValleyasaPennStatemen’svolleyballplayer.

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