Penn State women’s volleyball went 10-1 against non-conference opponents to start the season with seven sweeps and wins over three ranked teams on its way to being ranked No. 4 in the latest AVCA Poll.

Now, the team is preparing for conference play, which head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley described as a “new season.”

Twenty-one of the last 25 national championships have featured a Big Ten team, and the Nittany Lions know it’s one of the toughest conferences in the country.

“Big Ten teams are known for being heavy hitters, big girls, and just really good defenders. Really all-around play and how scrappy they are,” freshman setter Izzy Starck said.

While Starck doesn’t have any experience playing in the Big Ten yet, Penn State’s veterans are taking it upon themselves to prepare the younger players.

Caroline Jurevicius, a redshirt freshman who spent last season at Nebraska, has seen the difficulty that comes with Big Ten play. Jurevicius, who has 70 kills through the team’s first 11 matches, is using that previous experience to guide the younger players, like Starck, in preparing for conference play — a lot of which is done off the court.

“I think that preparation is key. When you have time to go watch the film on whoever you’re playing, that’s going to be key. And know your opponent, that’s it,” Jurevicius said.

Schumacher-Cawley agreed that much of the preparation for conference play is being done off the court, although it’s not always in the film room. The third-year head coach praised the players and staff for working hard to be physically ready against some of the nation’s best teams.

“Credit to our strength coach and our athletic trainer. I think they’ve done a good job of making sure everyone’s healthy, and I think the team did a really good job this summer getting in the best shape they can,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “I think we do a good job of taking breaks when we need them and making sure they’re getting their rest, and I know they understand the importance of that.”

Penn State’s non-conference slate taught the team a lot about playing some of the most talented teams in the country, including stretches of several matches within a short period.

The Nittany Lions know Big Ten play will only bring more challenges, but the lessons learned during the first month of the season will be effective in the future.

“Our preseason was really competitive. I think we learned a lot moving forward, what we need to work on, and how we need to continue to get better for conference play,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “It doesn’t get any easier from now on out, so I think the team is focused. We had a good practice yesterday, and we’ll get in the gym, and then take off and get to Purdue.”

That matchup against No. 10 Purdue, Penn State’s Big Ten opener, is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25, at Holloway Gymnasium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue went 2-0 against the Nittany Lions last season, helping fuel the fire for the blue and white to get conference play started with a win.

“We’re ready to go. It’s a new season now. So, hey, it’s here whether you’re ready or not. We’ve got to buckle up and compete hard,” Schumacher-Cawley said.