In the three weeks since Penn State first met Minnesota and Wisconsin, the implications of this weekend's rematches have significantly increased.

The No. 2 Nittany Lions (21-0, 10-0 Big Ten) handed the Gophers their first and only loss of the Big Ten season in Rec Hall on Oct. 6. The next night, Penn State defeated the Badgers to complete the weekend sweep.

Since that time, No. 12 Minnesota and No. 14 Wisconsin have only one loss between them, when the Gophers (15-5, 9-1) beat the Badgers (15-5, 7-3) last week.

All this sets up a watershed weekend for the Big Ten women's volleyball season. Penn State goes on the road to face Wisconsin tonight at 8 and Minnesota tomorrow night at 8.

If Penn State wins both matches, it will set itself up for a shot to finish undefeated in the conference for the second consecutive year.

If they lose both, the Lions could end up alone in second place, a place they haven't been since 2004.

Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the nation's top 15 teams, and both represent the highest ranked teams in the Big Ten besides Penn State. That wasn't the case when the teams last met in Rec Hall.

"This weekend might be more challenging because we're playing the [next] two highest-ranked teams," Penn State head coach Russ Rose said. "But whether they're ranked or not, these are two places that are in the top 5 in the country in attendance."

Last season, when the Lions went to Wisconsin, the two teams played in front of 6,774 people. When Penn State played at Minnesota, 4,023 fans watched. Both those numbers are more than what the Lions attract at home on a normal weekend.

Penn State players and coaches are anticipating the toughest crowd they have played in front of this season, given that it is close to Halloween and students may be in extra-jovial spirits.

"Everybody will be dressed in costumes and be yelling at us, but I think it's a good test as far as playing in a hostile environment," sophomore middle hitter Christa Harmotto said. "Because if we make it into December, we're going to have to deal with a lot more of those environments."

Wisconsin has swept every opponent at the UW Field House since mid-September. The Badgers will have senior outside Maria Carlini, who did not play against Penn State on Oct. 7 while nursing a foot injury.

Notes

Friday night's match versus Wisconsin will be broadcast on tape delay at 1 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2. ... If Penn State defeats Minnesota and loses to Wisconsin, Penn State will remain in first place. If Penn State loses to Minnesota and defeats Wisconsin, Penn State will be tied for first, unless Minnesota loses to Ohio State today. Then Penn State will be alone in first. ... Rose is still contemplating which offense -- the 5-1 or 6-2 -- best maximizes his personnel. "I like the fact that other people don't know what I'm going to do until we start the match," Rose said.