J. Ptak... Puerto Rican League

[sky]

I watch a game in Puerto Rico and saw a guy by the name of Jeff Ptak who playing of Ponce, made Kurt Topple and Joaquin Acosta look like little kids. Very Amazing player!!!
Does anyone know anything about him???

[banthony2]

He played at IPFW, finished up in 2003.

[midwestfan]

I've been following Ptak and thought his stats looked pretty good.

Like banthony2 said, Jeff played for IPFW and finished in 2003. When his knees are healthy, he can litterally jump out of the gym (only Hector Soto for San Sebastian can jump higher). Just before his sr. yr. at IPFW it was recorded that he could touch 12'1" ! To say that he really hits the ball hard is an understatement! Good defenseive player and good server. His blocking is ok. He is an amazing player and he's also a nice guy.

What else do you want to know?

*Note to Benwhip'd: Noooo, I'm not going to talk about his great abs!!! ;D

[benwhipdrofn]

why not?? they are more impressive than his jumping )

[CaliforniaVBfan]

Ok, a bit of trivia about Jeff Ptak. and maybe a bit of volleyball history.

In 1997, Jeff made it on the Jr. National team and on the travel team to Italy - a big deal then. He got homesick and went home instead. Alternate, David Mckienzie, went to Italy in his place. Also, Billings, Polster, and Toppel where on that team as well, all members of the current National team.

BTW, the coach on the Italy team was Uvaldo Acosta who tragically died in Hawaii a few months later.

[Saruman]

What are you talking about? Jeff went to Italy and was the only underslassmen (HS) to get time on the Outside.

Jeff has had some Knee issues throughout his career but that is what happens when you jump 48".

Great kid...one of the few dynmaic players in the collegiate game in recent years.....glad he is still playing.

Would look really nice in a USA uni.

[midwestfan]

Totally agree with you Saruman, and if his knees hold up, I'm sure he will be wearing the USA uni!!!

[benwhipdrofn]

how about...part of the uniform ;D

[midwestfan]

benwhipdrofn said:

how about...part of the uniform ;D

heheheheheheheheheh!

Benwhip'd, I laughed outloud at that one. Get your mind back on volleyball!

p.s. ... no, I'm not even going to go down that road! ;D

[fuzzball]

How is it that he got no blocks in two matches last week? Did they not keep that stat. Even Hillman had a block.

[doctordubya]

On the subject of Ptak and the national team, he was on the training squad at the OTC a year or two back - did he quit the team or was he cut?

[midwestfan]

doctordubya said:

On the subject of Ptak and the national team, he was on the training squad at the OTC a year or two back - did he quit the team or was he cut?

Jeff redshirted his SR yr ('02) because of a knee injury, finished out his college eligibility in '03 and was with the guys trying out for WUG last summer. More knee trouble kept him from going with the WUG team and he came back to Ft. Wayne for another surgery last fall. He was doing rehab for the knee all of the fall, winter and spring. He ended up in PR the middle of May and from the looks of his numbers the knee seems to be ok. I wouldn't be too surprised to see him playing somewhere in Europe this year.

If, and this is a big if, his knees can hold out, I think he'll be back with the national team training for '08. I hope he'll be back with them becaue he is a really exciting player to watch!

[Saruman]

No doubt that Jeffrey is a rare breed of kid. The tools he possesses are a gift and I feel confident in saying that he could help out US program possibly immediately.....for sure in the future.

The question posed by the Doctor was one of Does he want to and is he ready mentally........ I can only hope that the "good Doctor" was not eluding to anythng else! .

At the time Jeff left Colorado he wasn't in a great state of mind. There were some personal family matters, financial matters and health issues involved. He left on good terms with the staff and I think everything considered Jeff should and would be accepted back.

Grinding away on the off 2-3 years before an olympics as a poor College student is not easy for anyone. Jeff has a good heart as always been respectful to those around and above him and he certainly earned the respect of many people involved in this sport.

[midwestfan]

Saruman said:

No doubt that Jeffrey is a rare breed of kid. The tools he possesses are a gift and I feel confident in saying that he could help out US program possibly immediately.....for sure in the future.

The question posed by the Doctor was one of Does he want to and is he ready mentally........ I can only hope that the "good Doctor" was not eluding to anythng else! .

At the time Jeff left Colorado he wasn't in a great state of mind. There were some personal family matters, financial matters and health issues involved. He left on good terms with the staff and I think everything considered Jeff should and would be accepted back.

Grinding away on the off 2-3 years before an olympics as a poor College student is not easy for anyone. Jeff has a good heart as always been respectful to those around and above him and he certainly earned the respect of many people involved in this sport.

Wow, you read more into Doctor's question than I did!

Jeff told me in the fall that he was scheduled to return to the National Team for training and was to meet up with them in PR at the qualifier, if his knee rehab went well. His rehab didn't go as well as expected and that didn't work out. I think his relationship with the National Team is a good one ... he'll be back with them.

Jeff's been through some really tough times, probably stuff that 24 yr old's shouldn't have to go through but he has come out stronger and is a very positive guy.

You're right Saurman, he is a great kid!