Bjorn Borg losing at Wimbledon was considered rare. John McEnroe keeping his mouth shut during a match is even rarer. But the Penn State men's tennis team playing a match at home could be considered the most uncommon of all.

Of over 30 matches and tournaments the team has scheduled for the 1988-89 season, only three are at home. After completing a nine-day, seven-match trip through the South over spring break, a home match might be useful.

The schedule-maker must have been looking out for the team. The Lions host the University of Pennsylvania today at 2:30 p.m. at the Indoor Tennis Complex.

"It will be good to get a crowd behind us for a change," said Dave Welch, Penn State's No. 1 ranked player. The team's record stands at 2-5 after the Southern road trip.

"You're used to the courts, background, the fans and the living conditions, Coach Holmes Cathrall said. "There is also less pressure, and it could mean the difference in a tight match."

Penn State and Penn know something about tight matches. The Lions squeaked out two wins against Penn in the fall season by identical 5-4 scores. But two key contributors in those Lion victories will not be on the court for today's match. Mark Cavalier suffered a broken finger and will be out of action for a few weeks. Also, another of the Lions' top players, Barry Wadsworth, left school in mid-February for personal reasons.

"We're at a different status now compared to what we were in the fall," Cathrall said. "Losing one (top player) is tough, but losing two is murder."

"We had a really successful fall," No. 2-ranked Jamey Savitch said. "But now this really puts a damper on things."

Cathrall said he has been forced to move some players up in ranking, and he is ready for a tough match. Penn sports a 10-0 record for the spring season and is coached by Virgil Christian, a former tennis player for Cathrall at Penn State.

"They're coming off a few big wins. They're going to be gunning for us," Savitch said. "Everyone is going to have to play a big match."

After today's match, the team goes back on the road tomorrow afternoon. The team will travel to Philadelphia to take on Atlantic 10 Conference-rival Temple. Last year the Owls defeated the Lions 5-4 en route to a second-place finish in the conference, one place ahead of Penn State.

"They're probably not as strong as Penn. They're basically the same team as last year," Welch said. "If everybody does well, both matches can go either way."

The Lions have had two weeks to get ready for these two matches. Penn State last played March 4 at Davidson College and lost 5-4. That was the last match of the road trip that took Penn State to Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Cathrall said his team was worn down after the spring trip.

"I learned some things about the players, and I put in some new doubles combinations," Cathrall said. "You learn what kids really want to play when you're playing a match and traveling every day."

"We had a chance to relax after the spring trip. We also got a chance to work on some things we didn't do well on the trip," Welch said. "It also allowed us to get more focused on these two matches this weekend."