When the women's tennis team begins Big Ten competition this spring, it could almost be compared to the small town whiz-kid who heads off to the big city to seek fame and fortune.
Penn State saw amazing success in the Atlantic 10. From 1979 to 1990, the Lady Lions posted a 31-2 record against A-10 teams. And their conference championship last spring was their seventh in a row.
But that was in a conference that had only three schools with total enrollments above 20,000. With Penn State's departure, that number becomes two.
Now say hello to the Big Ten and such mammoths as The University of Wisconsin (a 1991 enrollment of 43,000) and Ohio State University (enrollment of 54,000). According to 1990 figures, seven of the conference's schools boast student populations above 35,000.
But more importantly, say hello to a conference which has something that the Atlantic 10 has consistently lacked -- teams ranked in the nation's Top 25 and teams that regularly appear in the NCAA team tournament.
A Volvo Tennis Collegiate Rankings poll released during the middle of the spring 1991 season included three Big Ten teams in the Top 25. Indiana University held the No. 12 spot, Wisconsin came in at No. 20 and Northwestern University was No. 22.
Indiana went on to the NCAA team tournament and advanced to the round of 16.
The Hoosiers will be Penn State's first Big Ten opponent when play begins in February. And Lady Lion Coach Sue Whiteside is looking forward to arriving in the tougher conference.
"Competitive-wise, for the team, its really great," she said. "I mean, with the competitiveness of your players, you're going to get tired of winning the Atlantic 10 championships if that's all you have to look forward to . . . but it's going to be a challenge. We're going to be the new kids on the block."
Whiteside pointed out that the quality of her program has been improving in recent years, and Penn State can now extend its recruiting area to the Midwest.
"The Midwest has traditionally been the strongest region for recruiting in women's tennis," Indiana Coach Lin Loring said.
In another Volvo collegiate poll released last spring, two of the Top Ten singles players hailed from the Midwest, although they played in the more favorable climates of southern schools.
"We may lose the best five out of the region to schools like Stanford and Florida, but we keep six, seven and eight," Loring said.
"I've already been in touch with quite a few players out of the Midwest, and because Big Ten tennis has always been big, now we're giving players another option -- now there's Penn State," Whiteside said. "And I feel I can get some players from those areas.
"It's going to be hard in some respects because the Big Ten always offers big packages, kind of glorious things. They fly recruits in because they have the money to do that. And they've already set a precedent for how they do things. I'm not saying its anything illegal, its just extravagant.
"But even though ours may not be as extravagant as everyone else's, we have quality facilities, plus we have quality academic support, quality strength training, the whole nine yards."
Tammy Okins-Nguyen, the current No. 1 singles player, is a Minnesota native who said she chose Penn State because of academics and a desire to go to school on the East Coast.
Still, Penn State has one noticeable disadvantage in what it can offer its potential recruits.
Whiteside said that the team offers just two scholarships.
"There are eight full scholarships at most schools in the (Big Ten) conference," Loring said. "From that standpoint Penn State is behind."
That could change.
Penn State Assistant Athletic Director Susan Delaney Sheetz said, "You have to remember that in the transition to the Big Ten, all of our programs are being re-evaluated. We are aware of the strengths of the Big Ten and what we will have to do to compete."
