Ten people and their luggage piled in to a van for a seven-hour drive might sound like your typical college weekend road trip.

The Penn State women's tennis team is doing just that this weekend. Only their trip is not so typical.

Not unless you include hundreds of tennis matches, many of the top players in the East and a chance at some nice hardware as part of a typical road trip.

"We used to always take a chartered bus," senior Pilar Montgomery said. "It was nice, we could watch movies and have lots of space. I don't know how we are all going to fit in a van. I hope no one on the team is claustrophobic."

Regardless of their method of getting there, the 2000 William and Mary Tribe Classic Invitational in Williamsburg, Va. will be special for the team because it is the last chance the entire team will get to play together until at least February.

"This is the first and last time this fall we will be traveling as a whole team," senior Terressa Whiteside said.

"I think it will be a good weekend for us to bond as a team. That's what happens on these trips; you spend a lot of time together," said Whiteside.

Maybe the bonding will help the team play better. They might need it against some of the region's best teams.

"It's always a good tournament," Montgomery said.

"A lot of really good teams are there. It's an honor just being invited. It should be tough."

Head coach Buffy Baker thinks her team is up to the challenge.

She is pleased with the way her team is performing as of late.

"I'm just looking forward to seeing them in competition," she said. "The team has been working very hard lately. (Assistant coach) Ben (Gabler) and I have been very pleased."

The tournament will be played in a flight format, with draws ranging from A through D.

Montgomery and Rebecca Ho, both fresh off last weekend's appearance at the ITA Hardcourt National Meet in Los Angeles, will play in the top flight.

Ho won her first round match at the event, but fell in the second qualifying round. Montgomery was knocked out in her opening match. As a doubles team, the two reached the third round of qualifying.

"I think Becca and I are playing well together," Montgomery said.

"We communicate well on and off the court."

Baker said that Montgomery and Ho benefited greatly from playing in the tournament, which attracts the top players from around the country.

"The more experience they get against those types of players, the more commonplace it will become for them," Baker said. "They begin to expect a higher level of play, and then they begin to expect it from themselves."

The tandem of Montgomery and Ho will play together in William and Mary's doubles tournament "A" flight.

Other pairings for Penn State: Judy Wang-Leigh Ann Merryman, Janelle Perez-Kristen Nowicki and Whiteside-April Uy.

The event begins today with two rounds of matches per day leading up to Sunday's finals. That afternoon Penn State will embark on the long ride home in that crowded van.

"That's when it will get tough," Whiteside said.

"We will all be cranky and tired from all those matches. Some of us will be a little banged up I am sure. The ride home is the one that will be long and hard," Whiteside said.

Whiteside stopped for a moment.

"Unless we play well. If we pay well, I am sure it will be a lot more fun."