ERIE — Talk about culture shock.

A year ago, Tyler Herrmann and Anthony Sprentz were senior teammates on a Seneca Valley boys volleyball team that reached the WPIAL Finals and state semifinals.

“It was one of the best seasons in the program's history,” Sprentz said.

This year, Sprentz and Herrmann were freshman teammates at Penn State Behrend. Both were starters on the Lions' 8-18 team — the worst season in the program's five-year history.

Nine of the 12 starters on the team were freshmen, including the two of them.

“It was the perfect storm,” Lions coach Phil Pisano said. “We lost three seniors to graduation, then had a handful of players wash out due to discipline, grades or transfer.

“Our roster wound up totally different from what we thought it would look like.”

Sprentz arrived at Behrend as one of four setters on the team. But a fellow freshman quit, a would-be sophomore didn't return to the team and a third setter was removed from the squad for undisclosed reasons.

That left Sprentz to play setter all of the time.

“I learned a lot really quick,” Sprentz said. “and having Tyler there as an outside hitter helped a ton. We've been playing volleyball together since eighth grade.

“I know how he likes to be set and I knew he was a guy I could trust. He and I go all the way back to youth baseball together, fourth or fifth grade.”

Herrmann also enjoyed having a familiar face on the court with him this season.

“It was helpful while we were both getting to know our new teammates,” Herrmann said. “We already had the connection on the court we were trying to establish with everybody else.

“The collegiate level is so much more competitive. We were such a young team with players coming together from so many different backgrounds and styles of play.”

Sprentz wound up being named the Lions' Most Improved Player. He tallied 846 assists on the year.

Herrmann was named Rookie of the Year for Behrend men's volleyball. He was third on the squad with 210 kills, led the team with 173 digs and was fourth with 247 points.

Those awards were voted upon by the team.

“We originally planned to go with a two-setter offense,” Pisano said. “Anthony not only had to play all the time, he had to run a 5-1 system as a freshman and that's very difficult. That most improved award was well-deserved because he continually got better as the season went on.

“Anthony and Tyler brought a calm demeanor to the court. Their familiarity with each other was a nice connection for us.”

Herrmann admitted that taking the growing pains that come with playing on a young team was difficult.

“We played on dominant-type teams all through high school,” he said. “The transition here was difficult on us.”

“We won a lot,” Sprentz recalled of the Seneca Valley years. “Taking on college competition with all freshmen ... I never experienced anything like that in sports. It's not fun to lose.”

The Lions finished 13-14 in 2015 after finishing a program-best 15-10 in 2014.

Pisano believes good times are on their way back to the program.

“Going through last season will benefit us in the long run,” the coach said. “Our players were able to grow together. They're a talented bunch and we've got another group of good freshmen coming in.

“This team has a chance to be good for a while.”

Herrmann, a mechanical engineering major, made all-academic honors this year as well.

“The good news is we'll be playing together for a long time,” he said. “We've got time to figure it out. I know we'll play much better as a team next year.”

Sprentz, studying interdisciplinary business at Behrend, agreed.

“We didn't like the losing, but that experience will definitely benefit both of us,” Sprentz said. “This team is going to do well and we want to be a big part of that.”