The No. 17 Nittany Lions will take their 1-1 record into New York against the Bonnies, who they defeated 136-90 last year in McCoy Natatorium.
St. Bonaventure is 4-2 on the year and coming off a convincing 155-88 versus LaSalle University.
The team will have an eye on victory, but more importantly on the improvements they have made over the past three weeks through a vigorous training regimen.
"The whole team's made some quantum leaps," head coach Bill Dorenkott said. "I'm really pleased."
Since the beginning of October, the team switched its focus from technical matters like stroke technique to one of conditioning through increased aerobic intensity and distance.
A typical week has each swimmer covering 60,000 to 80,000 yards in the pool - roughly the equivalent of 35 to 45 miles. In addition, weight training and out of the pool conditioning are done.
Adding it up, the 20-hour per week practice limit imposed by the NCAA gets filled out quickly.
"I can't think of another sport where you're spending twenty hours a week from September to March for an event that might only last 22 seconds," Dorenkott said.
While the team does not expect the Bonnies to roll over, its primary focus will continue to be fixed on larger meets like the Auburn Invitational: a three-day, six-session meet in early December.
"They've got some pretty good individuals," Dorenkott said. "I have a lot of respect for Bonaventure and their coaches and staf," he said. "The benefit of [this meet] is it will give us some opportunities to put kids in second and third events."
"Quite frankly, the end of the year successes are predicated by [early season training]," Dorenkott said.
He said that this attitude can be a tough sell because some kids can want instant gratification and immediate results.
However, this is not a problem for what he called a mature group that includes swimmers who sleep in their sweatpants, ready for another early start.
"We live by the proverb, 'He who chases many rabbits seldom catches one'," Dorenkott said.
