Nebraska has long been one of volleyball’s most acclaimed programs, winning championships in 1995, 2000 and 2006 and making it to at least one Final Four eight times in the last decade.

MSU hasn’t had the same recent success, but Saturday’s matchup will give the Spartans yet another opportunity to prove themselves as an elite team.

Head coach Cathy George weighed the challenge of the upcoming weekend at her press conference on Tuesday.

“Nebraska … is undefeated and has had a storied program since I was a kid, which was many moons ago,” George said. “It’s been a very good program over the years.”

Before playing Nebraska, MSU will play unranked Iowa on Friday.

Iowa currently stands 0-4 in Big Ten play, but took No. 11 Minnesota to five sets last weekend. They also run a 6-2 system, which has six attackers on offense.

George described Iowa as a fiesty team, and their play style will stress MSU’s defense.

“We’re going to make sure our block does what it needs to do and get set up,” George said.

“They are a fiesty team and they play really hard. They force you to be patient and to be strong and to be disciplined throughout your game.”

A week after playing her younger sister McKenna, senior outside hitter Kristen Kelsay will see another familiar face on Nebraska’s team: her high school teammate, senior outside hitter Kelsey Robinson.

Robinson is the reigning Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week after posting a monstrous 29 kills, 22 digs and five blocks against Wisconsin last week.

She also shares Co-Big Ten Player of the Week honors with senior outside hitter Lauren Wicinski, who, ironically, was last week’s National Player of the Week.

Saturday’s MSU-Nebraska game is shaping up to be a showdown, and George said MSU will have their work cut out for them.

“Of course, we have homecoming on Saturday night, but also turn around and have that big matchup that evening at 7 p.m.,” George said. “Looking forward to this weekend, it’s going to be a fun one.”