After finishing an uncharacteristically shaky non-conference slate, Penn State women’s volleyball is rolling through its Big Ten schedule.

The No. 13-ranked Nittany Lions are 4-0 against conference opponents following big wins over Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, and No. 3 Ohio State. Now, another challenge lies ahead with No. 10 Nebraska and Northwestern coming to town this weekend.

“Nebraska’s always a really good team,” said libero Jenna Hampton on Tuesday. “I think it’s a team that you need to be worried about, especially with [middle blocker] Lauren Stivrins back there, even better. I think we have to really prepare and crack down on what we have to game plan for.”

The Cornhuskers join the Nittany Lions as the only remaining Big Ten programs with undefeated records in conference play. Stivrins, a sixth-year senior, is a large factor behind the team’s recent success. She made her season debut against Michigan on October 1 and immediately gave Nebraska a much-needed boost.

“Lauren Stivrins is a fabulous player and one of my favorite players, just because of the positive energy and excitement that she plays with,” Penn State head coach Russ Rose said. “She hits the ball really high and has great vision, so she makes them significantly better.”

Stivrins missed the season’s first 11 matches with a back injury. Now, the three-time All-American middle blocker is back to propose a monstrous challenge for Penn State this weekend.

Joining Stivrins is a loaded Nebraska lineup chock-full of senior stars. Senior middle blocker Kayla Caffey, whose 0.399 hitting percentage ranks sixth in the conference, joins Stivrins at the net. Meanwhile, two-time All-American Lexi Sun anchors the Cornhuskers’ outside hitters.

Penn State faces Nebraska at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 8. On Saturday, the Nittany Lions will match up against Northwestern, which shouldn’t be taken lightly, either.

“They have good talent,” said Rose. “We lost to Stanford and Oregon, and they beat those two teams. That, in itself, should kind of give you a good indication that Northwestern is playing really well and has a number of players who are having good success.”

As Rose noted, the Wildcats have a number of impressive wins under their belts despite standing at 6-9 on the season. Much of that brief success is thanks to outside hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara, whose team-leading 3.68 kills per set ranks seventh across the entire Big Ten.

This weekend’s matches at Rec Hall are arguably Penn State’s largest in a long while. If this season’s earlier contests are any indication, that home-court advantage and support should bolster the Nittany Lions throughout every play.

“Nebraska and Northwestern are two big matches. I know the Nebraska match is on TV, so I would like to think that we’re going to try and do something to get a lot of people in the seats,” Rose said. “I know that the band will be there and the student section will be there and the booster club people will be there, so I’m appreciative of that and hope that there is some plan to get some big numbers in there.”

Penn State’s launched a full-on White Out in Rec Hall this weekend, hoping to recreate Beaver Stadium’s most electric atmosphere.

“We’re hoping for a big turnout. [We’re] just trying to advertise as much as we can because we’re going to need the crowd for it,” said Hampton.