The Penn State women's tennis team is aiming to contend with two Big Ten opponents as it heads to the Great Lakes State this weekend to play Michigan and Michigan State.

Penn State (6-7) will face the Wolverines in Ann Arbor tomorrow, then travel to East Lansing for a match with Michigan State Sunday.

This weekend's matches will be the first for the Nittany Lions since returning from a trip to Florida over spring break. Last weekend was the team's first off weekend since the season started in January.

"The break gave us a chance to recoup from some nagging injuries," Penn State women's tennis coach Buffy Baker said. "With a weekend off, we're going to be more mentally and physically rested."

No. 19 Michigan (10-1) has been dominant this season, with its only loss coming against No. 23 Alabama two weeks ago. The Wolverines boast two ranked doubles pairs and ranked singles player Elizabeth Exon.

"Michigan has been very strong all year, but there's not a lot of pressure on us," Baker said. "We have every reason to go in there expecting to compete,"

The Lions will look for help from senior Leigh Ann Merryman, who has won her last three singles matches. Last week, the Big Ten honored Merryman as its Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week.

Michigan State (5-7) is not as deep as the neighboring Wolverines. On Tuesday, Michigan beat the Spartans 6-1 in East Lansing.

Though Michigan should be tough competition, Baker and her team say Big Ten competition is what they prepared for.

-- By Steve Clancy