As the Penn State women's volleyball team readies itself for a stiff test with No. 6 Florida Friday in the American Classic in Washington, D.C., it can finally be challenged.

The No. 11 Nittany Lions (9-0) have played mostly second-tier competition so far this fall, and it shows by the team only losing one game in nine matches. Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose said the weak non-conference schedule was made by design.

"The factors I used were that I didn't know how the travel schedule would be a year after Sept. 11," Rose said of the pre-conference schedule that has had the team at home for two weekends and only a reasonable bus trip away on two others.

"I didn't want to spend any time in airplanes when I didn't have to."

Rose also spoke of the need for a team with so many newcomers to get its collective feet wet before taking on top-tier competition.

So, coach, after nine consecutive victories with only about five minutes at any point in time when any of the matches could be even remotely considered in doubt (in the fourth game versus Akron Aug. 31), has the confidence-gathering mission been accomplished?

"I think we're better than when we started," Rose said. "Whether we are better than anyone in the Big Ten, I don't know.

"I know we have to be a lot better to have success in our conference. I think the preseason has indicated we would be competitive in other conferences, but we're not in other conferences."

Junior middle hitter Cara Smith considers the pre-Big Ten slate a success in terms of acclimating the team to each other.

"We got some of the jitters out from having the new girls on the court," Smith said.

"I think we are very comfortable with our lineup and who's playing. I think we accomplished that with this pre-Big Ten season."

Ready for the big time

Now that the cupcakes are out of the way and the freshmen and sophomores have gotten some collegiate experience, the Lions travel to Washington to take on the Gators this Friday in what should be a packed gym for a match that will be televised regionally.

Rose said he expects a motivated team. "I would hope that the players sense that [this match] is important," Rose said. "There are certain things you can replicate in practice, but you can't replicate playing good teams in front of 5,000 people."

In explaining how excited his team is for the match, Rose drew an analogy with the Penn State football team.

"I am sure the football team got more excited about the opportunity of playing Nebraska on national television," he said. "Not to diminish the importance of their Central Florida game, but you would hope they'd be [more pumped]."

The match may be the best measuring stick all regular season as to where these Lions stand nationally.

"Certainly Florida is not only the best team we've played to date," Rose said. "But Florida is also the best team on our schedule if you look at the rankings."

Knocking the rust off

No one can argue that middle hitter Robyn Guokas has been impressive overall this season after missing the entire 2001 campaign due to illness. The junior leads the Lions in blocks with 38, is second in hitting percentage at .570 and her 62 kills are good for fourth on the team.

"I think Robyn has been blocking very well," Rose said. "At some points, she looks strong."

But her solid play has come in spurts, and Guokas has occasionally looked sluggish, especially late in matches.

"Robyn has got a lot of pride, and I don't think she tells us when she's 100 percent or not," Rose said.

Still, Guokas has appeared in all 28 games the Lions have played this year, and the rust can be expected after sitting out an entire year.

"It's a tough thing," Rose said. "She needs to be the one to decide when she's feeling up to going hard, and when we need to rest her a little bit."