Following a lackluster performance last Saturday, the No. 19 Penn State women's gymnastics team looks to turn up the intensity.

The Nittany Lions will host a dual meet against No. 24 N.C. State at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Rec Hall.

Although the team came out on top of Minnesota at home last weekend, following the meet, both the gymnasts and coach were convinced that they had a long way to go before they were in top form, showing their true capabilities.

"Our score definitely wasn't an indication of the caliber team we have," Penn State coach Steve Shephard said. "We counted two points in mistakes."

Mistakes were costly in the meet with a few falls on the balance beam and the uneven bars that were uncharacteristic of the way the women perform in practice.

"We did some distraction routines that had girls walking under the beam while some was performing a routine," Shephard said. "I figure if they can do it under those circumstances, they should certainly be able to handle any pressure situation."

It's always difficult for any team to perform when faced with injuries, especially to upperclassmen. The Lions know this now with two key competitors out. Senior co-captain Corissa Pirkl suffered a high ankle sprain last week, while junior Aslynn Satterfield is battling back from a wrist injury.

"In practice last Thursday I was doing a normal jump that I've done for so many years, and I came down and rolled my ankle," Pirkl said.

Being out of the lineup has forced Pirkl to look in other directions for ways to help the team improve.

"Now that I am hurt I see ways that lead that I couldn't before, in a different way," Pirkl said. "We need that now, with us struggling a bit early in the year."

Freshman Brandi Personett has shown leadership beyond her years, securing her second all-around title in two weeks against Minnesota.

"She didn't have a great meet and she was disappointed with that," Shephard said. "But she's capable of doing all four events at a very high level, and that's what I anticipate this weekend."

As the meet tomorrow rapidly approaches, it's time for the team to show that all the routines they can do in practice can be done to perfection when the lights are on.

"It's pretty much up to them in terms of being able to handle it in a meet," Shephard said. "They just have to do it when it counts."