Every recorded win looks the same to outsiders. For players, however, there are those victories that need to be carried along with them for future competition.

The Penn State women's tennis team (5-5, 0-1 Big Ten) recently bounced back from a two-game losing streak with a decisive win over Lehigh last weekend. The team will be looking to use that win for momentum and get similar results during a home meet against Bucknell at 5 p.m. today at the Indoor Tennis Center.

During its spring training trip, Penn State was only able to collect a total of one point in two matches. After the two tough losses, it was essential for the women to return home and get back on track fast.

Being home turned out to be just what the Lions needed. Last weekend, the team handled Lehigh easily in a dominating 7-0 victory. The win not only balanced out the team's season record, but also served as a major confidence booster.

"Playing a match, knowing you have just come off a win is always going to be a confidence booster," junior Sasha Abraham said. "Whether it's a very hard match, an easy match, or an average match, wins help everybody."

The majority of the women obviously needed a surge of energy and an esteem boost to get back to a competitive state of mind.

The team now has its mind set on collecting points and momentum as Big Ten play looms around the corner.

Like Lehigh, Bucknell is a fairly unfamiliar opponent to the Lions. One thing the team has been working on is reacting to its opponents, and it has also been trying to figure out how it can work on its weaknesses.

"Right now, they are still continuing to figure things out on their own," Penn State women's tennis coach Buffy Baker said. "That is, in my opinion, just doing a better job of getting out of ourselves, and focusing more on our opponents."

Bucknell's season has been lackluster as of late, and Penn State will plan on using that to its advantage. The Bison (2-5) are currently looking to end a four-game losing streak and gain momentum themselves.

The meet against Bucknell will also be an important stepping stone for a return to Big Ten action this weekend. The team's opening conference game against Indiana resulted in a 6-1 loss.

Illinois and Purdue will both be making trips to Penn State this weekend, giving the Lions a chance to improve their Big Ten resume one match at a time. Both teams are ranked in the top 50 teams in the country and should offer the women a chance to truly test their abilities.

Even though the weekend matches are within the conference, the team is still focusing on today's meet first and foremost. In order to be fully prepared for the Big Ten competition, the team will be able to gain even more confidence with a win over Bucknell.

"Whatever happens, a win always helps," Abraham said. "That would be the biggest thing for us. We're trying to bag as many wins as possible before the Big Ten matches. That will always help the team and help everyone individually."