At first glance, the Penn State women's volleyball team looks like it is in good shape heading into the new year.

The Lions are coming off of a national championship season in which they won 36 straight matches.

The preseason polls have them as No. 2 in the nation. And they return three preseason All-Big Ten players in juniors Nadia Edwards, Amanda Rome and Katie Schumacher.

However, beneath the surface lies a team that is searching for answers.

"This is a very inexperienced team," Penn State coach Russ Rose said. "And I think they've been spoiled by the success of the previous team and don't realize that there was a lot more work to get themselves into that position.

"The expectations are very high for this group, and I don't think they have the experience and maturity right now to handle those."

Rose's concerns stem from a somewhat disappointing preseason. After one of the easier preseasons in recent memory, Rose said the players had some difficulties that did not allow them to make the progress he had hoped for.

And the schedule is not going to make the season any easier.

The Lions join No. 1 UCLA, No. 9 Florida and No. 13 Colorado State in the State Farm/NACWAA Classic in Gainesville, Fla. this weekend.

The Lions will play today at 5 p.m. against UCLA, with the winners and losers of both matches facing each other tomorrow.

The Bruins provide a difficult task for Penn State. UCLA returns all but one player from last year's team, which made it all the way to the Central Regional Finals before falling at the hands of the Lions.

"I know they are a very strong team," UCLA coach Andy Banachowski said. "I think were looking at it as a chance to even things up."

Player of the Year candidate junior Kristee Porter leads the list of solid players making their return for UCLA.

Porter became the fastest player in NCAA history to record over 1,000 kills. She did so in the 50th game of her career. The three-sport athlete in high school had more than seven matches of 30 or more kills per contest.

Though Porter has been the go-player in the past, the Bruins' supporting cast is just as solid.

Bruin senior Elisabeth Bachman, along with juniors Erika Selsor, Ashley Bowles and sophomore Lauren Fendrick, have All-American potential.

"I am excited just in general to see the game," defensive specialists Michelle Quon said.

"We have been practicing a lot and you couldn't ask for a better game to begin the season."

Penn State players share similar enthusiasm about the opening-day matchup. Rome said the contest should give the Lions a chance to see where they are and what they need to do to get better.

But Rose said not to expect too much from his team until later in the season. He realizes it might take some time for the Lions to get comfortable.

"I think two or three weeks into the season we'll probably get comfortable and we'll probably be ranked where we should be," Rose said.

"They're going to have to be patient. I'm going to have to be patient and the fans are going to have to be patient."