Two years ago, the Penn State women's volleyball team played perennial powerhouses Texas, Nebraska and Stanford in its nonconference schedule.

Last year, the Lions played Hawaii and UCLA before entering Big Ten play.

This season, and two NCAA Championships later, the No. 1 Lions had trouble scheduling any team in the top 25 out of conference.

"Our challenges this year were I had committed to return visits to St. Louis and Duke," coach Russ Rose said. "That meant two of our four weekends were tied up."

St. Louis is the only team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 poll that the Lions (12-0) were able to schedule this year.

While other teams like No. 2 Texas and No. 3 Washington have been able to schedule top-tier nonconference opponents, Penn State has had to resort to playing some lower level schools, but it's not for lack of trying.

Rose said he came close to a home and away agreement with No. 6 Nebraska, but the plans fell through.

One of the benefits of scheduling tough competition is seeing how players react to pressure situations.

Texas coach Jerritt Elliot, whose undefeated Longhorns have played five ranked nonconference teams this year, feels his team will be rewarded down the line for its tough slate.

"We wanna be pushed," Elliot said. "There's gonna be matches that we're gonna be able to win but we wanna be tested on our strengths and weaknesses and try to develop in scenarios we still need some development in."

While Rose agreed that tougher schedules can test a team, he feels it can also be detrimental to a team's development.

This year's Penn State team has three freshmen and two transfers. For that reason, Rose feels the lack of top-ranked opponents might not be a big problem.

"When you're implementing younger players you have to be cognizant of the fact that you need to bring them along and scheduling wisely might be one of the variables of doing that," Rose said.

Elliot said the time will come for the top teams to play each other, but for now he and the rest of the coaches have to focus on getting there.