Spring is here and conference play is fast approaching.

The Penn State softball team will play its final pre-conference tournament this weekend. The Nittany Lions (13-7) will travel to Charlottesville, Va., to participate in the Hoo's Who Tournament.

The tournament will be the last of the four that the team scheduled before Big Ten competition begins.

The team will play doubleheaders against Bowling Green, Liberty and host-school Virginia. The tournament will begin today and conclude Sunday.

The Lions played Bowling Green and Virginia last year, beating both teams. Although Virginia is not a conference foe, pitcher Kelly McCann said that the team is looking forward to playing Virginia.

"We have built up a rivalry with UVA," McCann said. "They have strong pitching. It is fun to have an out of conference rival like that."

The Lions also have strong pitching, led by McCann and freshman Marisa Hanson. The two have led the Lions to a successful start this season.

Hanson thinks that this weekend will help them continue that success when conference play begins.

"It will help us get ready for Big Ten play and show us what we need to focus on," Hanson said.

Last season the Lions came out of pre-conference play with a 16-8 record. The team has a chance to better that mark this weekend but it is not concerned with looking back at last season and how it compares in wins and losses.

"I don't focus on this year compared to last year," Penn State softball coach Robin Petrini said. "Wins are a product of how we are playing, but I don't focus on that."

Although Petrini is looking forward to getting some work in at this weekend's tournament, she said that this trip is largely based on financial reasons.

The trip will give the team nine games to help them get ready for its home opener on March 27. The objective over those games it to continue to improve and get better.

"We try to improve game to game," McCann said. "Every game you try to get better."