With their backs against the wall in their attempt to repeat as NCAA tournament participants, the members of the Penn State women's tennis team will embark on a crucial month of competition, starting with a trip to William and Mary tomorrow and Old Dominion on Sunday.

The Nittany Lions (5-6) endured an up and down first half of the spring semester, looking strong in beating Cornell and winning at Minnesota but also getting outplayed against Pennsylvania and at Wisconsin. Now with two strong eastern teams this week and six Big Ten matches in April, Penn State has a chance to close with a flourish.

"We want to establish ourselves as a dominant team in the east," Penn State women's tennis coach Buffy Baker said. "We have two great opportunities this weekend. Knocking off William and Mary would be a huge sign for us."

That is a task more easily said than done. No. 11 William and Mary (12-4) feature a balanced lineup, skilled from top to bottom.

"When we get players in here, sometimes they're good baseline players or good serve and volley players, we try to put pressure on them to become strong all-around," William and Mary head coach Brian Kalbas said.

Kalbas's approach seems to be working. The Tribe has sprinted up the ITA rankings this year and is on a four-match winning streak, including wins against powers South Alabama and Mississippi.

Captain Jessyca Arthur, ranked No. 60 in the country, leads William and Mary.

"Jessyca is a consummate student athlete," Kalbas said. "Her leadership has been invaluable to our six freshmen."

Arthur and Old Dominion's outstanding No. 5 Nataly Cahana will present a monumental challenge for Penn State's embattled leader, senior Rebecca Ho. Battling injuries and the country's toughest competition week in and week out, Ho has stood her ground and now has a chance to close her Lion career in style.

"Cahana and Arthur have proven themselves to be great players and should be great matches for Rebecca," Baker said. "Rebecca has nothing to lose. She has made incremental improvements as the season progresses. This will certainly be a challenge for Rebecca, but in a good way."

Cahana also teams up with Ana Radeljvic to give Old Dominion (7-5) a devastating tandem at doubles. After a draining five-and-a-half-hour loss to Iowa two weeks ago, Penn State enjoyed their only weekend off of the semester. The break provided time to re-energize and to get some crucial practice in.

"The break has helped," freshman Maaria Husain said. "We got a chance to work a little harder in practice and work on some things we normally don't."

Penn State has seen both William and Mary and Old Dominion at tournaments earlier this season, which could possibly be an advantage. But seeing opposition in the past and adjusting to playing on the road and every other menial factor that goes into competition is overrated.

For Baker, it comes down to effort.

"We played a hell of a match against Iowa," Baker said. "The match lasted five-and- a-half hours and four matches went to three sets. As long as we play hard and play physically like we did against Iowa, we'll be fine."