Well, maybe this will silence some critics. Maybe now some will stop questioning if this young team can win. Maybe they will finally acknowledge these freshmen as legitimate forces. Maybe the team can survive without an experienced libero and setter.

Or maybe the Penn State women's volleyball team will lose tonight, and the questions will resurface.

For at least this evening, though, those critics will remain silent. The No. 2 Nittany Lions cruised to a win against No. 15 Missouri, 3-0 (30-19, 30-21, 30-21) last night. It was their first match against a ranked opponent this season. The Lions, however, will meet No. 7 Texas at 7:30 tonight in a match that will be televised on College Sports Television.

"We came out with energy," freshman setter Alisha Glass said. "We look at lot more poised, and that's important coming into the next game, too."

Paced offensively by their potent trio, sophomores Nicole Fawcett, an outside hitter, Christa Harmotto, a middle hitter, and senior opposite Cassy Salyer, the Lions (7-0) hit .339 against the Tigers. Missouri hit only .120 last night.

Fawcett, who racked up nine kills in the first game, finished with a team-high 17 kills at a .394 clip, while the Lions' three other hitters also performed well.

And having that quartet post big numbers is a promising sign for the Lions, who came into the season with question marks at the libero and setter positions.

The offensive distribution indicates that Glass, who at times had a tendency to focus the offense on the left side hitters Fawcett and Megan Hodge, has begun to expand the offense.

Her career-best 44 assists last night was a welcome sight to coaches and teammates.

"She connected well with the hitters all night," sophomore libero Roberta Holehouse said. "In the 5-1 [system] she's really developed confidence and character and really becoming a great all around player."

Also equally positive, the Lions were finally able to make an effective first contact with their defensive specialists. Last weekend, Penn State struggled with its passing at times, which forced Penn State head coach Russ Rose to tweak the lineup in practice.

Replacing junior Kate Price and sophomore Laura Holloway with Kris Brown and Holehouse, Penn State enjoyed one of its best passing outings thus far. Holehouse attributed her successful outing to attitude.

"Just knowing that I have the ability to be one of the top defensive players and just being very disciplined in my position," she said. "I felt like I came out and played to the best of my ability and I'm just going to keep building on that."

Holehouse, inserted into the libero spot, led with 18 digs, a career best. Her previous high was four digs, last coming on Nov. 11. Holehouse was also able to tie her career high in service aces last night with three.

So for now, thanks to quality passing, everything is rosy in Austin for the Lions. But now, they look to tonight's primetime match.

"It's really exciting," Holehouse said, "and it's something that we look forward to."