With six conference matches left on the docket for the No. 3 Penn State women's volleyball team, the Nittany Lions aren't feeling safe after winning the first 14.

Bigger things are to come.

The only No. 14 that Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose cares about is junior Cassy Salyer, someone who can suit up and play for him down the stretch. How the season unfolds in November has implications for December.

The NCAA ranks teams heading into the national tournament based on how well it performed in the last 10 matches of the season. Rose has been programmed by negative experiences not to think ahead.

"When I was a Cubs fan, I knew what a magic number meant," Rose said. "I don't know how that translates to women's college volleyball."

Penn State has a four-match lead over its closest Big Ten rival, which is, strangely enough, another No. 14 in Purdue, who the Lions will face on Friday. Also, No. 17 Minnesota still looms in the distance.

And while the other four matches aren't against ranked opponents, Rose looked to Northwestern's victories against Purdue and Illinois this weekend as proof that every team is dangerous, especially when those teams are trying to impress the rankings committee.

Northwestern, who Penn State handled on Oct. 29 in a 3-0 sweep, took the Boilermakers to five games Friday, winning the deciding game, 15-12. When the Lions faced Purdue on Sept. 24, they had to rally and beat the Boilermakers in Games 4 and 5 to win a close five-game match.

"I don't highlight one match on my calendar and say, 'This is the big one,' " Rose said.

Rose believes that his team should be happy to know that many of its goals are still intact. His team is the frontrunner for this year's Big Ten championship, and a national championship isn't outside the realm of possibility. If Penn State can win against the Boilermakers and Illinois this weekend, the Lions can clinch a share of the Big Ten title.

"If I had to list what's the most exciting of those goals, it should be to be competing for a national championship," Rose said. "I hope they understand that they should be excited."

While the season has been a long one, having started back in late August, the Lions continue to keep the focus on one game at a time. Junior defensive specialist Kris Brown doesn't want to think that a national championship is the goal right now.

"Every game it's working towards winning a national championship, and a national championship is where you want to be," Brown said. "You kind of have to take the baby steps to get there."

And November is a large obstacle on the way to the Lions' goals. Factors such as health, spirit and just playing well at the right time are things that Rose listed as keys to Penn State's success in December.

Every little bit counts. Rose pointed to injuries as one reason that last year's squad got eliminated from the tournament against UCLA.

"If any of those things aren't at 100 percent, you kind of find yourself at a disadvantage," Rose said.

Injuries are something that Rose can't control. All is the same for the mental psyche of his team. But that is one thing that Rose isn't worried about going late into the season.

"I don't have any speeches where I tell them about the importance of this match or that match," Rose said. "If we're capable of [a national championship] then time will tell."