The No. 12-seeded Nittany Lions overcame the No. 7-seeded Fighting Illini to push Penn State to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
Three games in as many days over 4,700 miles away will test the mental and physical strength of the Nittany Lions.
Roman Bravo-Young and Carter Starocci will serve as the Nittany Lions' top-seeded competitors in Tulsa.
Hat tricks from Kristin O'Neill and Meghan Murray weren't enough for Penn State to overcome Vanderbilt on the road.
After conceding seven runs in the fourth inning, the Nittany Lions couldn't make up the deficit manufactured by the Tar Heels.
"We're playing our best ball right now, and this is what we've been aiming for all season. Let's go have fun."