For two seasons, the Penn State women's volleyball team rattled through its foes.

As easy as bump, set and spike they knocked off the non-conference challengers and Big Ten foes with one goal in mind: Win the national championship.

But just when the Lady Lions had their eyes on the prize and were one step away from achieving greatness, there was always someone else in the way at the end.

First, it was Stanford. Then, it was Long Beach State.

Last season, however, there was no stopping the Lions. Once they had suffered their first setback in their first contest at the hands of Florida, there would be no further denials. Penn State's pursuit, their fire sparked by Lauren Cacciamani and setter Bonnie Bremner, would not be put out.

Thirty-six teams contended with the Lady Lions, but in the end, it was Penn State who walked away from the Final Four in Hawaii as the national champions.

But now that Penn State has been to the top, the Lions are trying to stay there. This year's squad is hungry, yet young.

"I'm really looking forward to the season," Penn State co-captain Katie Schumacher said. "I don't expect anything less than what happened to us last year."

While the players are setting lofty expectations for themselves to for this season and expect to have their fingers sized up for another ring, coach Russ Rose is a little hesitant to take his squad to the jeweler's shop just yet.

"What we don't have is the most talented team in the conference," he said. "I wouldn't say we are the favorites to win the conference. You can look at is a pat on the back or someone painting the bull's eye on your back."

Rose thinks it is the latter. (He's very critical," sophomore Hillary Sexton said.)

The Lions have climbed the ladder, but this season each of their opponents have the Lions in their sights and are shooting to knock them down.

It would be, after all, difficult for any team to repeat as national champions with the target on their backs and Big Ten adversaries and volleyball elites alike shooting to end Penn State's reign. However, when two of the team's top players in Cacciamani and Bremner graduate along with Carrie Schonveld, the task becomes even more arduous.

"It's not going to be different from any other year," Penn State co-captain Amanda Rome said. "It's not like we have gotten that far in the past. This time, we took the next step. Since we were young, this is what we have been striving for and striving for.

"You have to remotivate yourself for another go at it. It was like this big climax in your life, and now we are regrouping and getting some steam up for the upcoming season. It's going to be a whole another team."

But it is, among others, Rome's team. (I look to her for guidance," Sexton said).

And Schumacher's team. (I want to be a leader," Schumacher said). And Mishka Levy's team. (Mishka has a lot to offer," Rose said). And Nadia Edwards' team. (Nadia Edwards has been playing awesome this summer," Rome said. "It is her time now.")

It is a team Rose expects to have at least three new starters. It is a team without one of the nation's top setters in Bremner and top killers in Cacciamani. And yet it is the team predicted to win the conference and perhaps beyond by the Big Ten coaches.

"Everybody's going to be out to beat you because you are the No. 1 team," Schumacher said. "I think that is something that we know — we have to play hard every time we play. That is something we understand as a team."

What they also understand that just as quickly as top players leave Penn State volleyball, it seems as if there is young talent ready to replace the graduates. This year could be no different.

Incoming freshmen, middle hitter Jessica Hayden and setter Cara Smith, who Rose says are some of the top players at their positions in the nation. And then there are Erin Iceman and Falin Schaefer, the redshirts from last season with promise.

"We are expecting a lot from the redshirts and the freshmen," Schumacher said. "I am expecting that whole freshman class to step up and play really well."

Also expected to play well and emerge this season are last season's true freshman Hillary Sexton and crowd favorite Robyn Guokas. Kalna Miller, Solena Quick and Shannon Bortner, vying for the starting center slot, could make more of an impact this season as well.

"Shannon Bortner is playing fantastic," Sexton said. "I love the way she sets, she plays off a lot of pressure. I have been so impressed with Shannon."

Little-used Dawn Ippolito and Tina Huisenga could contribute as the Lions' role players this season.

The Lions will be tested from Day One. In its first contest, Penn State faces UCLA, a team who put up a could fight in a NCAA Tournament fourth-round match, in the State Farm Women's Volleyball Classic. Should the Lions get by the Bruins, they could face Florida, the one team who defeated Penn State last year in the first match of the season. Not that it gets much easier once the Big Ten season gets underway either.

Which is why there has been no letting up among the team since Dec. 19, the day after Penn State won it all.

Throughout the spring, summer and into the fall, the players have been going through their fundamentals, staying in shape and making sure their skills are sharp.

"This summer, every one has been working so hard," Schumacher said. "There are days when everyone plays so well. I think right now, everyone needs to be at the top of their game. If everyone plays their position well, we will do fine."

"It might be a little rough for us, but we have great work ethic and a really good team dynamic," Rome said. "They are jumping into a tough situation. But it is all about finding your role. If everybody finds their role and we find our team dynamic, everything will be good.

"I really have confidence in the girls."