EASTON, Pa. - How Robert Irvin would perform in his collegiate debut was almost as big a question as whether he would be the one lining up under center on Saturday. He answered both questions - not just by winning the starting job (several weeks ago, according to coach Al Bagnoli), but by earning the right to keep it.

After earning its first win this season in Fullerton, Calif., the Penn women's volleyball team celebrated California style: with a trip to the beach feasting on In-n-Out burgers. At the Holiday Inn Buena Park Fullerton Classic last weekend, the Quakers fell to San Diego State on Friday afternoon, 0-3, and to Cal State Fullerton, 3-1, on Saturday morning.

Penn sprint football quarterback Mike Loguidice led his team in a valiant attempt to win, but mistakes and a poor night of blocking dampened all hopes for capturing the Allegiance Bowl title. In the end, the Quakers fell to Cornell, 20-12. In the loss, Loguidice performed well, completing 15-of-25 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns.

It certainly wasn't clean or pretty, but as far as the men's soccer team was concerned, it worked.

With high expectations and team support, the women's tennis team fought with fire this weekend during the 14th annual William & Mary Invitational in Virginia. The matches took place on Friday and Saturday in individual tournament format, and no team scores were kept.

What a weekend for Jessica Fuccello. The freshman forward notched two game-winners over the weekend when the Quakers traveled to play UNC-Greensboro and East Carolina. The two wins kept the Quakers' undefeated season alive, moving them to 4-0-1 overall. "I was kind of on a streak of non-scoring," Fuccello said.

Four years ago at Lafayette, quarterback Marko Glavic was ending a career as the Patriot League's all-time leading passer, and an average-sized kid out of Loveland, Ohio - population 11,219 - was running the Leopards' scout team. Fast forward to 2006, and that kid is now staking his own claim to the history books.

The Quakers football team got its season off to a strong start with a 21-11 win to spoil the opening of Lafayette's new stadium today. Sophomore QB Robert Irvin got the start over junior Bryan Walker, who played in several games last season. Senior RB Joe Sandberg had 166 yards and two touchdowns over 24 carries.

The Quakers women's soccer team is taking its undefeated act on the road this weekend. Leaving Rhodes Field for the first time this fall, Penn (2-0-1) will travel south to North Carolina to challenge UNC-Greensboro and East Carolina. Even after tying Rice Sept.

In their last meeting, the Penn football team defeated Lafayette soundly by a 30-point margin. That year, the Quakers went on to an undefeated Ivy League record to win the conference title.

After trips to rural Pennsylvania and upstate New York, the men's soccer team is finally ready to play at Rhodes Field.

The Penn tennis teams won the Ivy title and finished second last year, but that wasn't enough.

There's a little extra riding on the Penn-Cornell field hockey game for Quakers goalie Liz Schlossberg.

You don't need a player bio, a media guide or an interview with Coach Darren Ambrose to see that Natalie Capuano is a standout. You simply need to head over to Rhodes Field and watch a game. It is obvious, even to those completely unfamiliar with the Penn women's soccer squad.

Several weeks ago, it looked as if Penn's season-opening football contest against Lafayette could face a slight problem - the lack of a suitable stadium. Lafayette had undertaken an extensive, two-part renovation of Fisher Field - with a $23 million price tag - that would make even the highest-profile coaches smile.

The Philadelphia basketball conference, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last season, isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Penn, La Salle, Temple, Saint Joseph's and Villanova have all agreed to continue participating in the round-robin format for men and women's basketball through the 2009-10 season.

Although the Penn volleyball team lost all three games at the Comfort Suites Invitational last weekend, it didn't come away empty-handed. After returning from Charlotte, N.C., the Quakers now have a better idea of what they need to do to succeed.