Head volleyball coach Kate Price and assistant coach Ryan Sweitzer are looking forward to a big trip back to Happy Valley on Sept. 15.

Price and Sweitzer, who were both National Champions for the Penn State Nittany Lions, know what it will take to defeat them and have been using the summer to gear-up for that challenge, among others on this season’s slate.

“It’ll be really great for the girls, a great experience.” Price said. “Obviously they’re one of the top teams in one of the top conferences. Very physical.”

The match-up against PSU should make for an electric atmosphere, with it starting a 7 p.m.

Price looks to have her incoming freshmen create an impact, with more size being added to the roster.

In order to maximize this impact, Price said a singular approach has been used in summer preparation.

“We’ve been working on a lot of individual skills,” Price said.

She looks for this to pay off in the tournaments lined up on this year’s schedule, which will feature the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Oakland Invitational and the Michigan Wolverines at the Marquette Golden Eagle Classic, before the trip to Pennsylvania.

“All of the tournaments will be big,” Price said.

Price has implemented much of her own knowledge from her Big Ten days.

“I’ve brought as much as I could,” Price said. “Playing at the highest level has helped me bring a lot to the girls. Just showing them a little bit of the high level.”

After finishing up the tourney circuit, the Panthers and the rest of the conference will gear up for its first year in an East/West format of conference play, with home and away matchups with each opponent.

Eastern will be in the West division with Austin Peay, Murray State, SEMO, SIUE and UT Martin.

The Panthers will look to unseat current OVC Champion Morehead State by making it back to the conference tournament for the first time since 2005.

Morehead will be in the East with newcomer Belmont, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech.

Joshua Bryant can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].