Looking to get back on track and move closer to an NCAA Tournament bid, the Illinois volleyball team will have to endure one of its most difficult road trips this weekend, heading to Ohio State and No. 1 Penn State.

Playing against the No. 1 team in the country is a feat on its own, but the road atmosphere will provide an added challenge. Illinois has faced top-ranked teams 12 times, winning once. That victory came during the championship game for the Illini State Farm Classic against the University of Southern California in 2004.

Illinois head coach Don Hardin knows his team will have to play well to pull off the victory.

“We can’t control how well Penn State plays, but I’m much more concerned about what kind of attitude we’ll bring out on the floor,” said Hardin, who is still one victory shy of 400 for his career. “If we come after them and play hard and aggressively, then it will be a good match.”

Defensively, the Illini will have to be on the lookout for the hard-hitting outside duo of Megan Hodge and Nicole Fawcett. Against Illinois on Oct. 19, Hodge and Fawcett combined for 42 of the 65 kills the Nittany Lions had despite pushing Penn State to five games. Hardin knows slowing them down will be important.

“If we lay back and don’t execute the game plan, don’t get them a little out of system, don’t come after them, and if they get in a groove and they start executing, watch out,” Hardin said.

Before traveling to Happy Valley, however, Illinois will have an important game against Ohio State. The team fell at home to the Buckeyes in five games on Oct. 21. With slow starts thwarting their hopes, the Illini have been working on it in practice, with certain players being assigned certain roles at the beginning of practice.

Skill-wise, the success of the team will come down to passing and limiting hitting errors, though against Ohio State, focusing on its big hitter will be a factor as well.

“We’re going to have to stop Danielle Meyer and slow her down,” Hardin said of the 6-foot-1 senior.

Meyer posted 27 kills and hit .296 with 17 digs the last game against Illinois. On Friday, Illinois will be in Columbus, Ohio, to face the Buckeyes at 6 p.m. followed on Saturday by the No. 1 Nittany Lions at 6 p.m.