“It’s awesome,” Steinmetz said. “It’s good for our program, and we’ve worked hard for it, especially after losing three great seniors last year. So this year’s a huge accomplishment, and we’re really excited about it.”

In the first round, MSU will take on No. 3 Virginia at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.

While the tournament atmosphere is a familiar scene for many of the players, going against the Cavaliers (16-3, 3-2 ACC) also is a familiar situation. Last season, Virginia knocked the Spartans out of the tournament in a 3-2 overtime defeat in the second round.

“We had a heartbreaker loss last year going into the Final Four in overtime, so this is definitely a chance for revenge,” sophomore back Corey Block said. “But it’s a new year, and it’s different teams for both of us, so we’re just going to go out there as hard as we can and see what happens.”

Block said because the game is a rematch, she expects Virginia also to come out more motivated. Improving little elements, the team is preparing for what it expects to be one of the most aggressive games of the season.

“They are the team that has to win it at their home turf,” head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said. “Our goal was to go back to NCAA Tournament play, and we have accomplished that. So I think right now, we are a lot more relaxed in preparing for this game than Virginia is.”

In addition to being familiar with the Cavalier team, head coach Michele Madison is a familiar face, having been MSU’s head coach for 13 years until leaving for Virginia. Then an assistant, van de Kerkhof took over as head coach in 2006.

Van de Kerkhof said he hasn’t thought twice about playing against his former colleague.

“You have the mentor, and you have the student,” he said. “That’s what we will remain for the rest of our lives to each other.”

Despite knowing the challenging regular season schedule has prepared the team, sophomore midfielder Adelle Lever said she knows what Virginia’s players are capable of.

“I’ve played with a lot of the girls before,” she said. “They’re really fast and have good stick skills and are an offensive power.

“But our defense is one of our strongest points on the team, and I think we can have an even match and take the win.”

Although the Spartans did not defend their Big Ten Tournament title, players said they have been playing their best hockey in the weeks leading up to the NCAA Tournament.

“This time of year, that’s what you’re going to face (from) the Big Ten teams as well as NCAA teams because there’s more on the line,” van de Kerkhof said. “So you have to find a way to be the one who beats the opponent in the 50-50 situations or have the edge over another team.”

Initially having trouble scoring and transitioning from offense to defense, Lever said the team’s overall improvements are evident, and she’s confident and excited to see what it can accomplish.

“We’re transferring the ball and having a lot more trust in each other,” she said. “The games are getting a lot more even, and we’re scoring a lot faster.”

MSU is maintaining the same pregame strategy it’s held all season, focusing only on how it will perform. Steinmetz said nothing matters except leaving everything on the field and living up to the team’s potential.

“We’re going to play our hearts out because it could be our last game,” Steinmetz said. “It could be the start of a longer season, and if we all work hard and execute our game plan, we should be good to go.”