For the past two weeks, the women's volleyball team has had a chance to rest. It's had a chance to get healthy -- physically, mentally and academically. And it's had a chance to get accustomed to one another on the court and off.

But more importantly, with the long respite from match action, which ends at Rec Hall tomorrow night against Georgetown, the Lady Lions (4-0) have had the opportunity to improve many facets of their game through practice.

A casual observer or a fan may wonder what they have to work on; what could be wrong with a 4-0 team that is ranked 15th in the latest Coaches Poll? Coach Russ Rose has plenty of thoughts.

The Lady Lions have practiced almost every day, including a difficult Labor Day practice, after they swept Arizona in three games and had won four matches in three days.

"Practices are hard, they are demanding. I am a demanding guy," Rose said. "I make them work harder. One of the secrets to any coaching success is to keep them on edge to make sure that they don't get a false sense of security."

Although he's pleased that his team is winning, several things still disturb him.

For starters, while the majority of the team is healthy, one key player is not -- middle hitter Leanne Kling. That potentially unsettling development occurred during Tuesday's practice, when Kling twisted her ankle. Still, Rose expects his best offensive player to be in action tomorrow night.

"If I know Leanne, she'll play on Friday," Rose said during Tuesday's practice. "She's a very competitive person. She's tough. There are some other people that are not nearly as tough. She'll do the rehab, the treatment that they (the athletic trainers) tell her to do and she'll be fine. She'll certainly be affected, but we'll need her to be good."

But ask Kling whether or not she will be in action tomorrow night and she'll answer with a demonstrative yes.

"I'll be here for the weekend," Kling said. "(The ankle) may be black and blue and a little swollen, but it'll be fine."

Her injury, nonetheless, still concerns Rose, especially with a potent Georgetown team coming to town. The Lady Lions would be a much different team without their most lethal offensive weapon. But if for some reason Kling couldn't play, untested freshman Saundi Lamoureux would take her position.

"Saundi will eventually become a good volleyball player. She needs to learn the game and establish a personality on the court," Rose said.

Along the same lines, co-captain Jenny Schuller, who pulled an abdominal muscle against Pittsburgh two weeks ago, should be ready to go this weekend. Despite the pull, Schuller has gotten off to an outstanding start for her fourth and final season.

But Rose's major concern with his team is not injuries. It's discipline on the court.

After winning their first four matches, (three at the Pittsburgh Classic and one at Rec Hall) the Lady Lions' overall hitting percentage was one of many problem areas that Rose wanted to address. Against Miami, Penn State hit .180 percent.

"Last year's team had so much variety, and we had so much experience that the players just kept the ball in play. This year's group has no conscience. They'll go up and hit a ball that's impossible for them to hit. That takes time. They have to learn to be selective in hitting."

"We've been working harder ... things are starting to come together a little better," Kling said. "We've been doing drills where we are more error-conscious. It's hard to get out of those stages. It really is. You can't just say to someone, 'It's OK, let's go.' It's easy to get crazy, but it's hard to get back."

So far, Penn State's matches have been nothing but crazy. The five-game up and down victory over Pitt and-the Miami match have added to the new, unpredictable, crazy atmosphere.

"I think it's nice (being ranked 15th)," Rose said. "The win against Pitt (Aug. 30) was a legit win. They were tough and haven't lost a game since. But I wouldn't say that we are a better volleyball team (after the break). We still have some rotations where we do some things uncharacteristic of a good team. I don't think they are uncharacteristic of us, because we do it all the time, so to me, it certainly isn't uncharacteristic when we do something crazy."

Rose realizes that the discipline will take time and plenty of matches, but he points out that this year, his team physically does not have the number of players to compete and win.

"I think we'll develop into a more disciplined team. . . . It's inexperience and the reality that we are undermanned," Rose stated adamantly. "We do not have enough players to compete in the Big Ten. That is the bottom line."