Picture this:

Rec Hall filled to capacity, with some spectators even having to sit on the gym floor.

Match tied 2-2, first team to 15 in the fifth game wins.

The No. 16 Penn State Women's Volleyball team was down 2-1 to Michigan State in a critical Big Ten match-up.

Then out of nowhere a block that has been almost non-existent comes to life and sparks a nine-point Nittany Lion rally, crushing any hopes of a Spartan upset.

Sounds like a pretty good movie, right?

Actually, that was reality on Saturday night, because that was the way Penn State (24-4, 13-3 Big Ten) finished up its weekend, beating both Michigan (3-1; 30-19, 24-30, 30-27, 30-18) and Michigan State (3-2; 30-28, 24-30, 30-21, 28-30, 15-8).

The two wins keep Penn State in first place in the conference, holding a one-game lead over both Minnesota and Illinois.

On Saturday night, it was obvious very early in the match that this one was going to get ugly. It wasn't about which team could hit the higher percentage, it was more a battle between which team was grittier on the court. For the first time all season, the Lions were able to win despite hitting under .200 for the match.

Penn State used a kill-by-committee strategy instead of feeding one player over and over again. Five Lions had at least 11 kills, including 17, a team-high, from Ashley Pederson.

Senior captains, Cara Smith and Erin Iceman added 14 kills a piece, while Syndie Nadeau and Cassy Salyer both chipped in with 11.

"Just because we don't have one particular person like Stacey Gordon (Ohio State), doesn't mean that we're not a threat," Smith said.

"We're more of a threat because we've got more people that get the ball equally."

It was a lot of the same on Friday night, but this time, it was the freshman Salyer who was the deciding factor in the win over the Wolverines. The six-foot-five middle hitter had a career-high 21 kills, finishing the night hitting a ridiculous .677.

Salyer, who's been bothered with an elbow problem all season long, gave Penn State a much needed spark, especially after losing the second game.

"I've been working on being more available to Sam [Tortorello] to be more of an offensive threat to take the burden of these guys shoulders," Salyer said.

The "other guys" filled in rather nicely with Pederson finishing with 19 kills, Smith with 15 and Iceman with 12.

The difference maker on both nights was the back line defense. Against Michigan, Penn State broke a four-game record with 92 digs, including 25 from libero, Kaleena Walters.

The next night Walters was back to what she does best, quietly picking up 20 digs in the win.

When asked how Penn State beat Michigan State twice this season with both matches going five games, Smith answered without hesitation.

"We have better back row players," Smith said. "Our passing and our defense from our back row players is better than theirs."