For the first time in her four years at Penn State, Coach Sue Whiteside has a nationally ranked player on her tennis squad --and she's only a freshman.

But Olga Novikova is not your typical freshman. For one thing, she's 21 years old. She has played competitive tennis for 12 years in Russia. Heck, she hadn't even been to the United States until she came here last semester.

Novikova, ranked No. 31 in the nation on the collegiate level, lives in Moscow. She had been touring Russia and playing in tournaments since graduating from high school three years ago, and earned a No. 8 national ranking for all age groups there. Last year, she heard about Penn State through friend and former Lady Lion volunteer coach Michael Zatsiorsky. Wanting a change in her life and realizing she had an opportunity to study abroad, Novikova said the decision was easy.

"I was very bored in Moscow," she said. "In Russia, the university sport isn't as developed as it is here. You must choose to either play or study. I wanted to do both."

Novikova flew here in mid-August and stayed with Zatsiorsky at his home in Boston for a week before coming to school. After helping her move into her dorm room, he left for Boston the next day. She was all alone.

For Novikova, the transition on the court was easy. She slammed past her competition in the fall at the No. 2 position, compiling a 15-1 record and winning championship titles at the James Madison and the Old Dominion Invitationals. Her only loss came in the semifinals of the Rolex Regional Championship in Philadelphia to the Eastern Region's top-ranked player (Novikova was ranked 13th).

Whiteside was so impressed by Novikova's performance that she moved her up to the No. 1 position this spring. Whiteside said Novikova's 4-2 record so far is encouraging and has supported the decision.

"Olga killed her opponents last fall and she is definitely on the elite level," Whiteside said. "She has a very strong all-around game, and she has tremendous potential and desire."

Although Novikova has adjusted easily on the court, she said the transition to a new academic life was very hard at first. Not only did she have the freshman jitters, but she struggled through some of her classes and had a hard time understanding conversation at first.

"I didn't understand the language at first because words seemed to go together --(lectures) seemed very fast to me," Novikova said, adding that there are many differences between Russian and American schools. All of Novikova's exams in Moscow were oral.

Another difference is that Russian students are not able to choose which classes they want to take.

"You choose what you want to do, but all of the classes are prescribed for you. You must take this first semester, this second semester and this in another semester," she said.

Novikova has not had a problem adjusting to the Penn State social life. She loves to dance -- listing Bob Marley, disco and reggae as her favorites. She also likes to go to parties, but said she prefers apartments to fraternities.

"I like to go with people I am friends with and their friends," Novikova said. "I don't want to go somewhere where there are 100 people and I don't know 99 of them."

Although Novikova loves it here, like any normal student who studies abroad, she misses her friends and family (she has been home only once, during winter break). She talks to her parents every other week and tries to write to her friends, but she feels like she is growing apart from them.

"My friends are changing and I am changing, too. I feel that we are not as close as before, but still it was good to see them (over break)," Novikova said.

Even though it is hard sometimes, Novikova tries to stay updated on what is happening in Russia. Times are very tough -- prices have inflated two or three times higher than what they were before she left. Professors at universities make as much money as bus drivers. No one knows how long the current government will last.

Novikova is often saddened by the poor economic conditions -- after all, it is the place she still calls home.