High School
Four-year volleyball letterwinner at Hempfield Area High School outside of Pittsburgh ... was named the WPIAL AAA Most Valuable Player in 2007 ... helped his Spartan squad to a 12-4 record in 2007 while recording 158 digs, 71 blocks and 199 kills ... during junior senior in 2006, recorded 65 digs, 175 blocks and 278 kills while aiding the squad to a 14-3 overall mark ... member of the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Club ... also earned WPIAL section 1 first team honors in basketball ... member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Who's Who Among American High School Students.

Personal
Born Joseph R. Sunder on May 18, 1989 in Jeannette, Pa. ... parents are Rick and Patti Sunder ... has one sister, Leslie (19) ... uncle Jack Greiner graduated from Penn State in 1955 and cousin Steve Grabowski graduated in 2000 ... names playing the guitar as a hobby, Pink Floyd as favorite musical entertainer, math as favorite school subject, the Pittsburgh Steelers as favorite professional sports team, Michael Jordan as favorite athlete, "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" as favorite book, "Seinfeld" as favorite television show, "Ocean's Eleven" as favorite movie, Jim Carey as favorite actor, Angelina Jolie as favorite actress and Virginia Beach, Va., as favorite place to visit.

Why Penn State?
"I chose Penn State for the good academic reputation, great volleyball program, nice staff and faculty and the beautiful campus."

Quoting Coach Pavlik
"Joe has shown great promise in the fall as he develops into an outside hitter. His physical presence shows promise of another in a long line of hard-hitting, high-jumping outside hitters. His work ethic will get him to that level sooner rather than later."