To many, Penn State athletics is synonymous with football.

When people talk Penn State sports, they're usually referring to JoePa, BCS bowl games, Beaver Stadium and Saturday afternoon tailgates.

But there's another powerhouse athletic team on campus that shouldn't be overlooked by any Penn State fan who claims to bleed blue and white.

In case you haven't heard, the Penn State women's volleyball team is No. 1 in the nation and the Big Ten champions.

And on Friday, they set the NCAA Division I record for most consecutive matches won after sweeping No. 17 Illinois.

After winning another match against Purdue on Saturday, the team now has 54 consecutive wins under its belt.

The program is somewhat of an anomaly in NCAA volleyball. Titles are typically reserved for the recruiting-heavy West Coast teams like Stanford, UCLA or Pepperdine.

But our team from Central Pennsylvania continues to dominate the division. It hasn't even lost a set since last year's national championship. The team went on to win the title anyway, defeating Stanford three games to two.

It's success each year, in turn, attracts young recruits who strengthen the program.

The outstanding record should be a source of pride for all Penn State sports fans.

Criminal charges against Penn State football players and this October's downtown riot after the Ohio State win have blemished the Penn State athletic reputation of success with honor.

But the women volleyball players won championships and also stayed out of trouble.

On top of it all, the players respond to their victories and the new record with a sense of modesty. They don't let the wins go to their heads.

They're one of the several Penn State teams that doesn't get the credit it deserves.

This year, the team will host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament beginning the first weekend in December, so if you haven't swung by Rec Hall for a volleyball game this year, get to it.

And bring your game faces with you.

The players on the Penn State football team aren't the only Nittany Lions deserving of painted faces and pom-poms.