When this season started, the biggest questions regarding the Penn State women's volleyball team were if and how it would replace Sam Tortorello and Kaleena Walters, both four-year starters and leaders during the Nittany Lions past three conference championship seasons.

In the preseason and first half of the Big Ten schedule, the Lions (25-2, 14-2 Big Ten) answered uncertainties with impressive wins on the road (Texas, LSU) and, at times, dominating victories at Rec Hall.

Everything was fine and dandy until the second go-around in the Big Ten, which continues at 8 tonight at Michigan State (17-9, 8-8) and 8 p.m. tomorrow at Michigan (20-9, 7-9).

Penn State is 4-2 in its last six matches and No. 5 in the country, its lowest rank this season. Not what the Lions had in mind after last season's perfect conference year, and not the best timing with the NCAA Tournament approaching.

"We didn't lose a Big Ten match last year so all of us -- even the sophomores, everyone -- have to realize you win some, you lose some, but you have to learn how to bounce back and play even better," sophomore outside hitter Nicole Fawcett said.

With four regular-season matches remaining, Penn State leads Minnesota by a half-match for the conference lead. If the Lions win out they are guaranteed a fourth consecutive Big Ten title.

But after two defeats, the early season questions of replacing departed leadership have sprung again. This year, freshman Alisha Glass inherited Tortorello's jersey number (6) as well as her starting setter role. Sophomore Roberta Holehouse stepped into Walters position at libero.

Of the five underclassmen who regularly start, two of them are freshmen -- Glass and outside hitter Megan Hodge -- and the other three -- Fawcett (last year's National Freshman of the Year), Holehouse and middle hitter Christa Harmotto -- went through last season as freshmen under the guidance of the two departed seniors.

"They didn't go through it with full responsibility, they went through it with Sam and Kaleena leading the way," Rose said.

After playing consistently for the first 10 conference matches, the freshmen appear to be feeling the effects of their first college season, especially on the road, as it nears its end. That still doesn't remove the fact that Hodge is second in the Big Ten with 4.62 kills per game and a strong National Freshman of the Year candidate.

"The two players that remain on the floor all the time are freshmen," Rose said. "As talented as they are, that doesn't change the fact that they're freshmen. There's days they do terrific things and there's days they do some things that even they would identify as being bad decisions. It will be interesting to see how we play."

Notes & Quotes

While not naming specific players, Rose said the starting lineup is about "50-50," in terms of health, though no players are injured seriously enough to prevent them from practicing. Fawcett injured her left ankle prior to matches against Northwestern and Illinois, and said Wednesday it's not at full strength, but getting stronger. Harmotto was visibly limping during Saturday's match against Iowa. "Every other team has some of the same problems. I don't think we're unique in this situation," Rose said.