The team that was picked to finish in the bottom of the Big Ten is finally starting to earn some respect. The women's volleyball team went into the weekend with the statement that they are capable of finishing off top competition.

Perennial powers Penn State and Ohio State both fell victim to the Illini. Penn State and Ohio State are frequent traveling partners and together make a combination that Illinois head coach Don Hardin describes as "the most formidable weekend on the schedule.

"It's the kind of pairing that you circle when you first see the schedule, and it's the first time I have beat both in the same weekend," Hardin said. "They are very tough back-to-back because of their different styles of play — a lot of people around the Big Ten complain about it."

Against Penn State, the Illini were looking to pull off what most considered an upset. Penn State came into the game ranked 11th in the nation and known as a volleyball power that consistently competes for the national championship.

Penn State managed to beat the Illini in the first game 30-27 by using its strong defense and getting timely scoring from the team's two stars, All-American Cara Smith and reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Erin Iceman.

From the second game on Illinois tuned their play, executing better offensively and defensively. Junior Lauren Harks led all with 19 digs, while the Nittany Lions were held to a .131 kill percentage through the four games. Penn State's 19 points in the second game marked the first time that they had been held below 20 points for any one game since they played UCLA in the 2001 NCAA tournament.

The Illini were able to finish the next two games by continuing the strong defensive play and because of the strong offensive play of sophomore Rachel VanMeter. VanMeter led all players in kills with 23, a full six more than the next closest hitters, Penn State's Smith and Iceman.

"Rachel was on fire," junior setter Erin Virtue said. "She played awesome, and our connection has been on."

VanMeter attributes her solid performance to the extra time she spends in the gym.

"Virtue and I have been in the gym extra this entire week working on our connection," VanMeter said. "It's really paying off out there."

Hardin made VanMeter change from middle blocker to outside hitter at the start of this season and it's starting to show dividends.

"Originally Rachel didn't buy in," Hardin said. "But now she is starting to understand the position and her true value as a player.

"We won because we won the battle outside. Outside hitter is where her future lies, but she is so valuable because of her versatility and aggressiveness," she said.

Virtue agrees with Hardin on VanMeter's effectiveness at outside hitter.

"Having Rachel step up helped us to spread out our offense," Virtue said. "That makes us so much tougher because than it opens it up for Lisa (Argabright) and Shelly (O' Bryan)."

A modest Virtue also finished the match with 65 sets; next closest on the team was Jessica Belter with three.

In the second game the Illini took on similar star power in Ohio State's Stacey Gordon, who last year was First Team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. Although Gordon managed to finish with a match-high 30 kills she only hit .244 from the court.

Through the match the Illini were able to neutralize Gordon through great defense and spread the attack to score their points. VanMeter again led Illini scorers with 19 kills, while Argabright finished with 18.

"This team is still learning to go into a game and be expected to win — it's going to take some time getting used to," Hardin said.

The Illini took care of business at home and got two huge wins before heading on the road to face a nationally-ranked Michigan State team and a very strong Michigan team next weekend. With each passing win the squad continues to put themselves in a position to accomplish their goals in late November.