Pilar Montgomery and Rebecca Ho will lead the Penn State women's tennis team into the Big Ten Tournament, eager to overcome bubble status for the NCAA tournament.

The Nittany Lions (13-8, 5-5), seeded No. 6 in the tournament, would have avoided competing in a first round match with a win against either Iowa or Purdue earlier in the season.

"It came down to head-to-head records," coach Buffy Baker said. "The loss to Iowa was crucial for determining the five and six seed."

All things considered, Penn State couldn't have planned better opening matches for themselves.

"We have a good draw," senior Teresa Whiteside said.

"Sometimes as a team, we'll match better against one team. If we can beat Indiana, we'll be in the semifinals."

How did Whiteside go from the opening round match to the semifinals? The perennial Big Ten doormat and the Lions' tourney opener, Michigan State, found points tough against the Lions on April 7 — Penn State won 7-0.

After the virtual bye in the first round, Indiana bids for revenge against the Lions. After losing the doubles point on April 15, Penn State cruised to four wins in singles competition to best the Hoosiers. Montgomery beat Kelly Blanch 6-3, 6-3, and Ho defeated Amanda Field 6-4, 6-2 to help lead the charge by the Nittany Lions. Coach Baker likes her team's chances a second time.

"I feel very good about a rematch," Baker said.

"We go in excited. We know we can clinch the doubles point. The energy is gonna be real high."

This time will be different.

"We've taken a lot of people by surprise," Montgomery said. "They know we mean business this year."

Montgomery and Ho also have a personal conquest -- earning All Big Ten honors. Montgomery earned honors during her sophomore year with a .500 conference record. This season, the senior earned a 7-3 mark. Ho, on a seven-match winning streak, stakes claim for honors with a 9-1 record in the Big Ten.

Whiteside definitely believes Montgomery should graduate with the distinction of earning two-time honors — the second Lion to do so.

"If she doesn't get it, that would be a crime," Whiteside said.

Baker agrees.

"With what she displayed this year, she's very deserving," Baker said.

"I thought she was deserving last year and lost out."

Ho has those same shining credentials. Her latest in a string of solid road wins, Ho beat No. 55 Lia Jackson of Northwestern in straight sets.

Not to knock individual honors, the Nittany Lions also crave a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Lions control their own destiny in the next few days.

"We're a bubble team, but we have a good shot," Baker said.

"Beating Indiana again would only help us. A loss to Indiana may negate our earlier win. If we go in and win the semis we'd be secured a spot."