By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's volleyball team hopes to prove itself capable of playing with some consistency on Saturday as the Nittany Lion's face No. 1 Illinois in Rec Hall at 8 p.m.

Penn State edged out Northwestern on Wednesday night, 3-2, in what head coach Russ Rose called a poor performance. The Nittany Lions look to turn things around and live up to their Penn State legacy with their next match against Illinois.

Sophomore middle hitter Katie Slay believes the win on Wednesday was a wake-up call for her teammates as they realized they must work harder to improve their communication and performance on the court.

"I think we realize that our team has been talking a lot in the past, saying 'oh we're going to doing this and we're going to start doing that'," said Slay. "Tomorrow we have to come in and play better. Tomorrow we have to step up. We have to hold each other accountable and it starts at practice. We can't wait any longer. It has to start tomorrow."

Tomorrow, the Nittany Lions will show their dedication to the sport in what could be their biggest match of the year as Illinois remains the only undefeated team in the nation. The match will begin at 8 p.m. and has been declared a White Out. All fans are encouraged to wear white to show their Penn State support.

Last Match: The Penn State women's volleyball team won its game against Northwestern after going into a fifth set. The Nittany Lions struggled offensively and defensively, giving up multiple points due to miscommunication. Penn State is now 4-1 in the Big Ten Conference.

Next Match: Penn State hosts No. 1 Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 8 in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions look to improve their Big Ten conference record and become the first team to win against Illinois this season.

Vs. Illinois has a 15-0 record, going 4-0 in the Big Ten Conference. Penn State and the Fighting Illini have played against some of the same opponents this season. Illinois won their matches against Minnesota (3-2) and Wisconsin (3-0) while Penn State won against Minnesota (3-0) and Wisconsin (3-0). Outside hitter Michelle Bartsch leads the team in kills while middle blocker Anna Dorn and middle blocker Erin Johnson have proved to be vital behind the net with their blocking.