Dream come true.

The No. 7 Penn State women's volleyball team (6-0) went to Stanford trying to get a sweep that would keep the squad undefeated and it delivered.

The Nittany Lions won the last two matches of the Stanford Invitational in completely different ways. On Friday night, they defeated No. 12 Stanford on The Cardinal's home floor 3-2 (31-29, 23-30, 30-25, 26-30, 15-12). The Lions followed that with a fast three-game sweep of Eastern Washington (30-22, 30-26, 30-14) on Saturday.

"I was happy that we took some steps forward in the Stanford match," Penn State coach Russ Rose said. "But unfortunately we didn't play as well in the other two matches and took some steps back."

Against Stanford, senior outside hitter Ashley Peterson became only the 16th player in Penn State history to reach 1,000 kills when she recorded her fifth of the match in game two. She ended up with 21 kills on 80 attempts, a career high.

The match was as exciting and hard fought as it gets. Superfrosh Kate Price started the fifth game with a kill, then Stanford scored the next five points and seemingly had put the match away. The Lions battled back behind the great defense of junior setter Sam Tortorello, fifth-year senior Tabitha Eshleman, and junior libero Kaleena Walters. Then Price ended the game the way she started it, with her 28th and final kill, a career high.

"Tab and Kaleena played great defense all match long," Rose said. "It's good to come into Stanford, play hard and beat a very talented team."

Price and her teammates came right back on Saturday and lit up Eastern Washington. Price finished with 11 kills, giving her 45 for the tournament, and earning her Most Valuable Player honors for the Invitational. Price has not been playing like a freshman in the preseason and has helped shoulder the offensive burden with the Lions being thin in the middle.

"I was really impressed with her maturity," Peterson said about Price. "She really helped me out [Friday]."

Price added, "I was nervous but it was an excited nervous."

Also named to the all-tournament team were Peterson and Walters.

Another Penn State player, who has been surprising good offensively, is senior outside hitter Syndie Nadeau. After being named MVP of last weekend's Penn State Invitational, Nadeau kept up her good play on the offensive end, recording 22 kills over the weekend. She also helped out defensively in the Stanford match notching 11 digs, one of four Lions to record double digit digs.

Penn State really didn't need its defense on Saturday as it lit up Eastern Washington. The Lions out-hit the Eagles with a blistering .317 to .179. That doesn't mean the defense didn't play well, as Penn State finished with six blocks, including three by the gutsy sophomore middle hitter Cassy Salyer.

"These wins are not statement wins," Rose said. "Because other Big Ten teams have beaten top-ranked teams. Statements don't start until Big Ten play."