When you think of the Penn State women's volleyball team's offense of late, names like Cara Smith, Ashley Pederson, and Erin Iceman come to mind.

After this weekend, however, teams will have to account for two other players, Cassy Salyer and Syndie Nadeau.

Salyer had her breakout game Friday against Michigan. The freshman recorded 21 kills and no errors in 31 swings.

"I've been working on it in practice to be available to Sam [Tortorello]," Salyer said. "And to be more of an offensive threat. To take the burden off these girls shoulders [Smith and Pederson]."

Her 22.5 points and her unheard of .667 attack percentage led the team. The next highest was .364 by Smith, and no one else hit higher than .265.

Though she had been solid defensively all season, this game marked her emergence as an offensive presence. Before Friday, Salyer was the team's leading blocker and was mainly seen as a defensive player because of her large 6'5" frame and defensive range.

She was averaging 1.87 kills per game before the Michigan game, in part because of a stress fracture in her arm that recently healed.

"Cassy was an exceptional player this evening," Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose said. "We're a lot better when she plays like this because it forces other teams to separate the block."

If Salyer continues to play like this, it will give Tortorello four options every time she has a chance to set the Lions' attack during a key point in a match.

After Salyer helped the Lions to win a tough match against Michigan. The squad got help from another unknown player on Saturday against Michigan State: outside hitter Nadeau.

With Penn State down 1-2 in the fifth game Michigan State's Kim Schram smashed a ball over the net which Nadeau dig out into the net and started the rally that ended with a Penn State block.

So when Nadeau took the service in game five the game was tied 2-2. After she finally lost serve the Lions had taken a commanding 10-3 lead.

Nadeau compiled 11 kills in 38 swings and had a .237 attack percentage, which was a great improvement from her three kills in 28 swings on Friday.

"I think it says a lot about our individual players," Smith said.

"We have people step up each night, with Cassy last night and Syndie tonight. It's a really great time of the year for people to step up and people are doing that."