Is there really no place like home?
The Nittany Lion women's tennis team gets to find out this weekend when it hosts the Penn State Invitational today through Sunday at the Sarni Tennis Center.
"I'm always excited to play at home," junior Janelle Perez said. "I love not having to travel. We are very comfortable playing here, where we play every day in practice."
Freshman Leigh Ann Merryman agreed.
"I think we play really well on these courts," she said. "I think it is because we are all so used to them.
"This is our place."
Alabama, New Mexico, and Houston all are in the Nittany Lions' place today to take part in the event, which will be run in a "mock dual" format. This means that Penn State will play one school in singles play each day of the weekend, similar to if they had three separate dual matches.
A doubles tournament will also be played, with two flights and each school entering two teams in each flight.
The Nittany Lions want to use the weekend for match-play practice and to work on their games to help set the permanent line-up for spring.
"We won't set team goals," head coach Buffy Baker said. "I am not concerned whatsoever with outcomes at this point. It is just a good opportunity to get match play in a pressure situation against some quality opponents. I don't want (the players) to be focused on results."
Baker said that the fall season is a time for practice, and that players should prioritize working on their games over winning matches.
Tell that to senior Pilar Montgomery.
"I want to win everything," she said.
Montgomery was being completely serious about her competitive desire but was also speaking somewhat tongue-in-cheek in response to the notion that these matches are mere exhibitions, that the only goal is to improve one's game through practice, that winning is secondary.
"I think we always want to win," Montgomery said. "But it's good to get some work in, too. We just want to play well."
Montgomery noted that her and doubles partner Rebecca Ho, who are in their first year playing together, will benefit from the experience. That team will be joined in the "A" flight doubles draw by surprising young teammates sophomore Judy Wang and freshman Leigh Ann Merryman.
The "B" flight will include the Penn State pairing of senior Teresa Whiteside with sophomore April Uy and the team of Perez with freshman Kristen Nowicki. The Nittany Lions singles lineup will shift daily, said Baker.
"That's what's great about this format: the flexibility we have."
Whoever plays in the lineup's No. 1 position will have their hands full with the likes of New Mexico's Natalia Alekhova and Houston's Sarah Borwell. Alekhova, a senior from Russia, is coming off winning the UNM Fall Invitational and Baker hails Borwell, a senior from England, as a "strong player."
An advantage Penn State might have in facing the trio of teams that come from deep in the sun belt: the weather.
"The weather might become a factor," Baker said. "Some of the other teams may not be accustomed to those temperatures. Our girls experience them all the time."
Regardless of the weather, Perez is excited just to get team play going.
"Everybody looks forward to the first match of the season," she said.
