Finally, a good night's sleep.

Well, maybe not.

When the No. 28 Penn State women's golf team hosts the Nittany Lion Invitational this weekend at the Blue Course, the players may not get as peaceful a slumber as they hoped. Teeoff times begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow and Sunday.

Although the starting lineup of Katie Futcher, Keri Dugan, Meghan Mull, Amber Weinerth, Katrin Wolfe and Cynthia Skilton is coming off an impressive second-place finish at the Lady Northern Invitational, they're all worried about keeping the team's groove.

Following the Nittany Lion Invitational, the Lions get a weekend off before the Mercedes Intercollegiate, one of the biggest tournaments of the fall season. Consequently, this is the team's final chance to work out the quirks in its game and its final chance to work on competing in a tournament.

Several players spoke of the desire to prepare for the event as if it was on a completely new golf course. That includes taking good notes during the practice round and going over each hole mentally before the round, so as not to disrupt the recipe for success.

"You can get lazy," Futcher said. "You could also throw off your routine."

Another concern for the team this week is the noise level on Friday and Saturday nights in the dorms, something the players haven't had to worry about in their hotels for away matches. Penn State women's golf coach Denise St. Pierre hopes her players aren't tossing and turning all night.

"Dorms can get noisy on the weekends because most people don't have to get up on Saturdays," St. Pierre said. "But we do," she said, laughing.

St. Pierre also said that the increased number of family members and friends coming to see each player play in the tournament may present an additional distraction that the players didn't have to deal with on the road.

For Futcher, her dreams may include visions of James Madison senior golfer Jessica Lewis, who beat the Penn State senior in a playoff last year to win the tournament by a stroke. The Dukes also return Jayme Langford, the fifth-place finisher at this event a year ago.

Futcher, the No. 4-ranked player in women's collegiate golf, said there is an extra desire to win the Nittany Lion Invitational this year, as it is her home event on her home course in her senior season.

Even with all the potential problems and distractions of playing an event at home, the team is excited to finally spend a weekend in State College and to get a good night's rest.

"It's a comfort to you knowing you're in your own bed," Mull said. "The surroundings are familiar."

St. Pierre agrees that her team can use the time at home to rest. Travelling to Kentucky, Connecticut and Iowa on consecutive weekends has taken a lot out of everyone.

Futcher, coming off back-to-back wins, wants to use the time home to catch up on some schoolwork.

"I have four classes [today], and this will be the first time I'll be able to go to all of them," Futcher said. "[It's important], getting caught up academically. It's really stressful when you get behind."

The Lions come into the tournament riding the crest of a first and second-place finish at the last two competitions. Along with Futcher's success, Dugan has two consecutive top-10 finishes and the team believes it's coming together at just the right time.

"We have a lot of momentum going in," Mull said. "Our expectations are probably greater for this tournament."