The 13th Annual Big Ten Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships is tomorrow at Purdue's Lambert Field House, West Lafayette, Ind. All Big Ten teams except Northwestern will participate.

Key stats: Last year Illinois topped the conference and this year 16 placewinners will be returning from that team; however, Michigan is favored with the return of 18 of its top placers from last year. And Kim Kelly of Penn State tops all returning conference placewinners in the 5,000-meter race.

Injuries: Lady Lion Kelly Hickman was plagued with a swollen ankle that occurred during last weekend's meet. However, she will travel with the team to Purdue.

Preview: The Lady Lions have been striving for this important meet all season and must now be ready to face the excellent competition at Big Tens. Wisconsin is the top dynasty in the conference with six championships, last winning the title in 1990.

Coach Teri Jordan says: "At the Big Tens we're looking forward to having the opportunity to compete. Last year we finished fourth and that was a tremendous performance, and if we could match that we'd be very happy."

The No. 3 Lions (9-1 overall, 1-0 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) travel to Fairfax, Va., to take on EIVA-rival George Mason (5-8, 1-0) at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Key stats: The Lions are led by seniors Ramon Hernandez (125 kills) and Ed Josefoski (32 blocks) and freshman Ivan Contreras (12 service aces). The Patriots are led by Mike Mauro (219 kills) and Doug Mannka (.401 hitting efficiency and 30 blocks)

Injuries: Sophomore Kevin Hourican is out with a sprained his ankle. He will not be practicing until next week at the earliest, Coach Tom Peterson said.

Preview: The Lions and the Patriots represent the two strongest teams in the Tom Tait Division of the realigned EIVA. Penn State has completely dominated the rivalry, winning 49 of the 60 matches the two have played since 1977.

Coach Peterson says: "They are our rival and that pressure is good for us. We play better when we have more pressure put on us."

Penn State will compete in the East Carolina Lady Pirate Invitational in Greenville, N.C., this weekend. The round-robin tournament marks the team's first regular-season action. Today, it will take on Campbell University at 9 a.m., and hometown East Carolina at 1 p.m. Tomorrow has the team playing Eastern Michigan at 8:30 a.m., Robert Morris at 12 noon and Radford at 1:45 p.m.

Key stats: The Lady Lions faced two of this weekend's opponents last season, beating East Carolina 4-3 in 11 innings and blanking Eastern Michigan, 4-0.

Injuries: Centerfielder Cathy Boyd is out with a lower back strain and pitcher Heidi Hanna is day-to-day with shin splints.

Preview: The East Carolina tournament is the Lady Lions' major tune-up before they take on nationally ranked teams over spring break. Although all competing teams are Division I, and one, Robert Morris, is No. 23 in the country, Penn State should place in the top two.

The depth of the Lady Lions' pitching staff will be tested, as all five hurlers on the roster are slated to get some work in. Beth Reeves will go against Campbell, and Leigh Bakun will face East Carolina today. Tomorrow's starters are expected to be Gypsy Gooding against Eastern Michigan, Bakun versus Robert Morris, and Misty Hackett facing Radford. Hanna will be used in relief if she is healthy.

Coach Sue Rankin says: "We can really use this tournament as a springboard for the rest of the season. But there are some talented teams there -- there isn't anyone who can't beat us."

The men's lacrosse team will match up against the Fighting Irish at noon on Sunday at Notre Dame.

Key stats: The Lions scored 19 points in their scrimmage against Bucknell last Sunday and 13 goals against Cornell last Saturday.

Injuries: There are no injuries to report.

Preview: After three wins in preseason scrimmages, the Lions are looking for a good matchup against Notre Dame. The team's attack, midfield and defensive units are beginning to gel.

Although there are some questions about the goal position, Jason Johnson will be starting in the net.

Coach Glenn Thiel says: "We're hot and cold and a little inconsistent . . . but we can keep pace with them."

No. 9 Penn State (6-5) takes on No. 20 New Hampshire (13-2), Central Michigan (3-7) and Big Ten rival and host No. 34 Michigan State (7-2), in the Fifth Annual Hobie's Spartan Invitational at 2 p.m., on Sunday.

Key stats: The Lady Lions are coming off a 191.550-188.200 home win last Saturday against Ohio State. New Hampshire consistently scores in the 188-range, and Michigan State in the 186-range.

Injuries: There are no major injuries for the Lady Lions, but some lingering ones persist. Senior co-captain April Polito has wrist soreness. Senior co-captain Coby Silver has been battling a sore Achilles' tendon all year:

Preview: The Lady Lions have consistently scored higher than Michigan State and Central Michigan and should have no problem outpointing the Hobie Classic's Midwestern bloc.

Coach Shephard says: "New Hampshire will be there, that gives us some added incentive. I wore a 'New Hampshire' t-shirt to practice one day this week."

Penn State (9-3) sends seven team members to the Last Chance Invitational at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tommorow and Sunday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Key stats: Penn State is coming off a fourth-place finish last weekend at the Big. Ten Championships. Freshman Julie Krail, the 1994 Big Ten Champion in the 100-yard breaststroke, will be part of the 200-medley relay team for the Lady Lions.

Injuries: No major injuries.

Preview: The Lady Lions are only sending members of their 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay teams to the invitational. This invitational is unique because entire teams will not be competing against each other. Instead, swimmers from several schools will use this opportunity to decrease their times before the NCAA Championship next month.

Coach Bob Krimmel says: "Our goal is to have our 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays reduce their times."

Penn State travels to Norfolk, Va., for the season's first three games this weekend. The Lions face New York Tech (0-0) at 1 p.m. tomorrow and Old Dominion (2-0) at 5 p.m. tomorrow and again at 1 p.m. Sunday:

Key stats: Penn State is led by senior co-captains Ryan Wheeler (the team MVP two of the last three seasons) and Dave Hall. Senior right-hander Dean Kerns will be on the mound for the Lions against New York Tech.

Injuries: Lions' John Decostino (knee), Jusin Craig (elbow), Brian Bloomfield (elbow) and Bill Smith (groin) are out for this weekend.

Preview: Last year the team finished with a record of 15-28 (52-3 Big Ten). Old Dominion comes off a 31-11 record last season.

Assistant Coach Randy Ford says: "I just look for the team to go down there and play solid baseball -- hitters putting the ball in play, pitchers getting the ball over the plate, and good solid defense. "

Several members of the men's tennis team will compete in the Big Ten Men's Singles Tennis, Championship. First- and second-round matches start at 8:15 a.m. Saturday, with the finals culminating on Monday at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill.

Key stats: Penn State's Ivan Spinner is the No. 7 seed in the tournament. Three-time All-Big Ten choice Dan Brakus of Michigan will be competing as the No. 1 seed.

Injuries: No major injuries to report.

Preview: After an eight-year hiatus, the Big Ten will once again crown an individual men's tennis champion. Penn State will send Chris Cahill, Michael Carter, Greg Gaunt, Chad Skorupka, Ivan Spinner and Mike Tain to Champaign, Ill., to compete for this honor. Spinner, who is ranked sixth in the East and the No. 7 seed in the tournament, is expected to do well.

Coach Jan Bortner says: "Its obviously a chance for your individual players to gain some recognition. (For Spinner) it's an opportunity to go out and show what he can do against the Big Ten.