The markings are somewhere on Nicole Fawcett's forehead: 19-19. They're there, all right, just look hard.

Can't find them? Has the relative ease with which the Penn State women's volleyball team moved through the season blinded you? Become too comfortable with where the team is right now?

Well, to Fawcett, a sophomore outside hitter for the third-seeded Nittany Lions, those numbers have not yet faded. They're still emblazoned smack in the middle of her forehead, she said. At last year's regional, Penn State go upset and she had one of her worst efforts of the season: 19 kills and 19 errors for a hitting percentage of .000. But tonight, this weekend, she and her teammates have the chance to reconcile all that.

At 8 p.m. EST in Seattle, Penn State (31-2) will take on 14th-seeded Purdue (23-10) in the NCAA Tournament regionals. As it stands, Penn State is one of 16 teams still standing, but if the Lions win tonight, they will meet either sixth-seeded Washington or 11th-seeded Ohio State at 9 p.m. EST tomorrow in the NCAA quarterfinals in Seattle.

"Our focus will be on Purdue," Penn State head coach Russ Rose said. "If we're fortunate enough to advance, then well have a quick turnaround and try and get ready to play the winner of the Washington-Ohio State match."

For Fawcett, 19-19 was a learning experience. And now, as she approaches the match against Purdue, 19-19 still stands as a motivator.

This time last year, Fawcett and Penn State were preparing to host an NCAA regional in Rec Hall. And, after an undefeated season in Big Ten play, the talent-laden group led by some of Penn State's finest got upset by Tennessee. And Fawcett was particularly displeased with her subpar effort.

But Fawcett's slip-up last year hasn't been exclusive to her. In fact, since 1999 - when the Lions won their first and only national championship - Penn State has not advanced past regional play. But that's not for lack of talent. In that time, Penn State was 168-33.

"We have to be on top of our game at all times, and don't let anything slip away," sophomore middle hitter Christa Harmotto said.

But working in the Lions favor this time: They've played Purdue twice already this season, winning both meetings handily. Penn State played two of its best regular-season matches against the Boilermakers this season.

Plus, if the Lions win tonight, they might meet Ohio State, a familiar Big Ten foe. Ohio State, though, did give the Lions one of their few losses this season on Nov. 8.

And don't forget, Fawcett and the rest of her teammates will keep in mind what happened last year at this stage in the NCAAs.

"I use it as a way for me to get fired up and play well," she said. "I don't what happened last year to happen again to us - to drop out in the Sweet 16. I think it will definitely come into effect in my mind, to play to the best of my abilities, hopefully."