"If you look at the course of the season, I think this is a marvelous position to be in," Rose said. "If you asked me if our level of play is getting better every time out, I would have to say no."

If someone would have asked that question before the third game against Indiana, Rose's answer may have been different. Heading into game three with a two-game lead, the Lions were looking like the best team in the east. A small lapse in play changed that.

Momentum from the first two games boosted Penn State to a solid 11-3 lead against Indiana. At that point, the Lions seemed to let up on the block, allowing the Hoosiers to swing to the open court and diminish the Lions' eight-point lead to a one-point lead, 11-10.

The shock forced Penn State to take command of the game. Led by middle blocker Lauren Cacciamani, Penn State scored four consecutive points to end the match 15-10. Cacciamani finished the night with a .346 hitting percentage and 12 kills, including one to finish off the match.

"Indiana is scrappy. They're one of the few teams in the Big Ten that doesn't care where they're at, they give 110 percent anywhere," back row specialist Tomuke Ebuwei said. "It was game three and they were still trying to get points."

Much of the Hoosiers' scrappiness came from their desires for a postseason. Beating the Lions would have almost ensured the Hoosiers of a tournament bid.

"We had nothing to lose. We wanted to play our game and show the Lions that we can play with them," Hoosier outside hitter Ryann Conners said. "We didn't want to play tentative, but maybe in the first game we did that."

Indiana was a little more than tentative in the first game, hitting a negative-.054, and making it fairly easy for the Lions to win 15-5. Their blocking wasn't any better, posting two blocks in the first game and only one in the second.

With setter Bonnie Bremner guiding a path for the Lions to hit .308 through the second game, Penn State didn't have much problem closing out the second game 15-6.

Bremner also led the way for Penn State against Northwestern. She racked up eight kills against the Wildcats for an amazing .800 hitting percentage en route to the Lions' game-one victory, 15-5.

Blocking was key for Penn State all weekend. The Lions posted 15 blocks against Northwestern which guided them to a 15-3 win in game two. The Lions had a small hesitation before finishing the Wildcats with a 15-6 game-three victory.

Despite a few stutters during the weekend, the Lions finished in top-team fashion. But, as Rose was quick to point out, Penn State is nowhere near where it needs to be for the postseason.

Still, at least one player has never had a doubt in her mind, and she's not going to start doubting now.

"I agree with coach that we need to focus on picking things up, but I wouldn't even think about not winning," Cochran said. "I feel this team is going to do it, there's no reason why we shouldn't."