The Penn State women's tennis team is expecting big competition against Pennsylvania this weekend for its home opener.

Despite the Nittany Lions' tough loss against Pennsylvania last season, the team hopes that its preparation for this year's affair will pay off.

Penn State coach Buffy Baker said the competition is looking better with a strong and tough lineup, and that the Lions are working hard to get a win.

"The team has been doing a lot of playing as well as drills to help them learn and cultivate points better," she said. "We are also continuing to foster our doubles development."

Last week, the Lions competed in the Florida State Tennis Tournament. Baker said she thought the girls did extremely well, but they may have a hard transition going from outdoors to indoors this weekend.

Among some of the players competing this weekend, Baker believes that all of them will do well.

Freshman Lauren McCarthy is expected to lead the Lions in singles and doubles this weekend.

"Lauren is a great competitor, and she hates to lose," said Baker.

With the big match growing closer, the team knows what it needs to do.

"Although we don't set up goals match per match, I try to keep it simple for them and for them to focus on one thing," Baker said.