As the final ball dropped Saturday night, finishing the fourth game of the match at 30-21, the players of the Penn State women's volleyball team gathered in the center of the court with arms raised in celebration.

But it was more than simply the celebration of a team that had scored a point, won a game, or even won a match. It was the celebration of a team that had just beaten Pitt in the round of 32 to qualify for the Sweet 16; it was the celebration of a team that had exorcised past demons by making it past the second round for the first time since 2000; it was the celebration of a team that may not have been picked to advance this far, but found its own way to do it.

"If you would have said to me at the beginning of the year that this team is going to win the Big Ten, and I'll get back to you right before they go to Regionals, I would have signed on right then," Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose said. "Because I thought we had some big holes that we had to fill."

But the players never for a second wanted to let those holes stand in their way. The answer to advancing this far simply came from a combination of competitiveness and team chemistry that has proven, at least thus far, to be more potent than size.

"This group is a little more competitive, and they certainly like each other a lot more," Rose said. "That's been the backbone of this team all year."

Much of the competitiveness has its roots in Cara Smith, a senior co-captain, who leads her team in an intense manner and was termed by Rose "as competitive a player as we've ever had."

Having entered the program just after the 1999 National Championship, she is one of four seniors whose expectations for the team have their roots in that dream season. So after two early exits in the NCAA second round, her final go-around simply had to be a special one.

"It wasn't even an option [not to make it to the Sweet 16]," Smith said after the Pitt match. "The last two years were such a disappointment that we've been working hard for this."

This competitiveness was nowhere more crucial than Saturday night, as the women lost the first game of the Pitt match and were entrenched in a back-and-forth second game that saw the Panthers have game point twice. But they fought their way back to tie the match up at one game apiece, from which they coasted to two more easy wins to secure a berth in the regional semifinals.

Knowing this team and what they've done this season, Rose knew it would be that way.

"I might have been disappointed with how they were playing, but I also was patient and aware of the fact that they could get it back together," he said. "I say to [Smith], 'OK Smitty, let's go,' and she looks at me and says, 'OK.' I don't need to get involved with any sort of additional communication with her, and I feel the same way with [junior outside hitters] Ashley [Pederson] and Syndie [Nadeau]. They've been through tough times, and they're working through it."

This competitiveness combined with a positive team chemistry that is impossible not to notice has propelled the girls over squads that may have had more talent, over hitters that may have been more physical, and to triumph in close matches with tough teams.

"In close matches, I put our money on us because I think we're playing well together," Pederson said.

Already having achieved the first goal on their list with a Big Ten Championship, the Nittany Lions now have moved down to the next one: the Final Four. As they head down to Florida, it could be their Friday opponent, No. 6 seed Kansas State, or a potential Saturday night opponent, No. 3 seed Florida or No. 14 seed Colorado State, that could serve as obstacles between the women and this goal.

Then again, for the team on a 12-match winning streak and with a conference championship, potential obstacles have not stopped them before.