This weekend the Penn State softball team will prepare for upcoming Big Ten play with its final non-conference tournament of the season. The team traveled to Charlottesville, Va., yesterday to play in the Hoo's Who Tournament.

The Nittany Lions (8-11) will play a trio of doubleheaders during the round-robin tournament, beginning with games against Wright State (4-8) today at 9 a.m. Those games are followed tomorrow with a pair of games against Drexel (2-13) starting at 9 a.m. The tournament concludes on Sunday when the Lions battle host team Virginia (23-10) at 1 p.m.

Penn State last competed on March 9 in the Speedline Invitational Tournament in Florida, giving it a 13-day layoff. The Lions lost a hard fought game to third-ranked Stanford, 4-2, before wrapping up the tournament with a 1-0 setback to Purdue. The Lions went 3-3 throughout that weekend.

Penn State is led by the offense of junior outfielder Gina Bianchini and senior third baseman Jennifer Tripken. Bianchini leads the Lions in batting with a .304 average, while Tripken paces the team with four home runs and 14 runs batted in.

The squad has also received good pitching this season from sophomore Marisa Hanson. Hanson is 4-4 with a 0.54 ERA. She tossed the second no-hitter in five years for the Lions in an 8-0 victory over Hofstra in the Speedline Invitational.

Although they will not be overlooking the games against Wright State and Drexel, the key contests will be with Virginia on Sunday.

Kristen Dennis, a junior pitcher and first baseman that received All-America honors last season, leads Virginia into the tournament.

While Penn State head coach Robin Petrini said the team may pitch around Dennis if necessary, she said that there has not been any special preparation for Dennis.

Hanson said the Lions and Lady Cavaliers have developed a small non-conference rivalry over the years.

"Virginia is always a great team and we always want to beat them," Hanson said. "It seems like ever year we split with them."

Penn State was swept in the two games they played against Virginia during last year's Hoo's Who Tournament.

Coach Petrini said she does not expect the long break between games to have much of an affect on the team.

"We are playing a lot better every week and we will continue to improve," said Petrini.

"Playing better every week is our motivation right now."

The Lions hope to improve on last year's 3-3 showing in the Hoo's Who Tournament and to come home with a winning record.