Isn't Iowa one of those gimmies? One of those creampuffs that Penn State is supposed to roll over?

Just look at the numbers. The Nittany Lions are 30-0 all-time against the Hawkeyes and have won 90 of 96 total games in those matches. Last year, Penn State swept them twice.

All the statistics don't seem to mean too much to the No. 2 Penn State women's volleyball team.

"Every team is good in the Big Ten," sophomore middle hitter Christa Harmotto said after the Ohio State match. "Just the conference itself makes a name for itself every year as far as how many teams go into the NCAA tournament, so we get fired up and excited for every match."

This Iowa team might not be the Iowa of yesteryear, either. The Hawkeyes (11-1) have moved out to a fast start, led by some top-conference talent, and will meet the Lions at 7 tonight at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

Also working against the Lions (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten) is the little amount of rest that they've been given thanks to a Wednesday night match against rival Ohio State.

Though the Lions were impressive in the win against the Buckeyes, Penn State head coach Russ Rose has a healthy amount of respect for Iowa.

"Iowa's a good team," Rose said. "When you have success against someone last year or 15 years ago doesn't have any bearing on Friday night, so you have to be ready to play. You have to be aware of the fact that people are better at home."

The Lions left State College yesterday and won't really get much time to practice, Rose said, because the Carver-Hawkeye Arena is shared with other Iowa sports teams who will need to use it.

Further complicating things, the Ohio State match was nationally televised on College Sports Television, which gives the Hawkeyes a little head-start on preparing for tonight's match.

Leading the way for Penn State are outside hitters Nicole Fawcett and freshman Megan Hodge, who have been sturdy all year. Freshman setter Alisha Glass, who started the season splitting time with fellow freshman Jessica Yanz, has emerged as the top setter, and enjoyed a measure of success as she's grown in the system.

But Iowa, not usually considered rich with talent like some of the Big Ten's other programs, has senior middle hitter Melanie Meister, whose play has drawn the attention of some around the conference.

Meister, this week's Big Ten Player of the Week, has been instrumental in helping Iowa to the quality start. And sophomore libero Emily Hiza, who ranks fourth in the conference in digs per game (4.74), has led the Hawkeyes passing. As a team, Iowa is second in the conference in digs per game (17.53).

"The Big Ten [portion of the schedule] is most important as far as getting ready for the NCAAs and I think we have to take every match the same," Harmotto said.

"I'm very excited to start the Big Ten, for sure."