Simply put, it's go time for the Penn State women's tennis team.

With an NCAA tournament bid hanging in the balance, the Nittany Lions will set out on a make or break April containing six crucial Big Ten matches, starting with a swing through Michigan to face Michigan State tomorrow and Michigan on Sunday.

As of right now, Penn State (6-7, 1-3) is solidly on the fringe of the NCAA tournament picture. This weekend's matches with the Spartans and Wolverines, two teams comparable in talent to the Lions, are must-win.

"We need to do well in the Big Ten, every match is good for us," Penn State head coach Buffy Baker said. "It's safe to say we have to go two and oh this weekend."

While No. 74 Michigan State (10-7, 2-3) and No. 66 Michigan (7-8, 1-4) are not at the same level as Florida, the top team in the country, or even William and Mary, which Penn State fell to last weekend, they will provide a stiff challenge.

Michigan is a battle-tested team having faced top teams like Tennessee, Notre Dame and Kentucky.

Michigan State is the conference's most improved team. Its 10 victories this season are already more than the past two seasons combined and their 5-2 victory over Minnesota on March 16 ended a 33-match Big Ten losing streak.

"I'm so impressed with the entire team," Michigan State head coach Tim Bauer said.

"Everyone in the lineup has come up big for us at one time or another this season."

The Spartans are coming off an emotional win over archrival, Michigan, last weekend.

In an effort mirroring Penn State's Easter Sunday miracle at Old Dominion last Sunday, Michigan State came from behind to win four of six singles matches in a 4-3 victory.

"We try to play athletic tennis and we strive to be tougher both mentally and physically," Bauer said. "That's what happened against Michigan. We were just tougher."

Making things tougher for Penn State this weekend, is that both opponents will be gunning for revenge.

In addition to embarrassing Michigan State twice last year, 7-0 and 4-0 in the Big Ten tournament, the Lions also ended a 10 match losing to the Wolverines last season, winning at home 5-2.

"I have a feeling Michigan will be out to get us. They'll be ready to compete," Baker said.

With this against them, the Lions will put their season on the line, knowing that one false step could possibly deal a fatal blow to their hopes of returning to the NCAA tournament.

Despite the tenseness of the situation, Baker remains resolute. She knows her team is prepared well and is up to the task.

"There is not a sense of urgency," Baker said. "The girls are doing everything they need to. Practices have been strong for the past two weeks, the intensity has been good. The key is to win the doubles point. We know we can win without it, but it is a lot harder."

Ironically, with everything at stake, Baker dismisses the thought of letting her team play cautious tennis.

"We know we have the talent," she said, "we know we've worked hard, we just have to go out and trust our abilities and refuse to play it safe."