The MSU volleyball team returned from its final road trip of the regular season with a renewed sense of confidence.
The Spartans (16-11 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten) entered the weekend unranked for the first time this season with their NCAA Tournament hopes still in limbo.
After defeating Iowa (15-10, 18-16, 15-3) in straight games on Friday and giving No. 8 Minnesota a fight before losing in four games Saturday (13-15, 15-10, 14-16, 8-15), the Spartans feel their tournament hopes are back in their hands, said junior outside hitter Erin Hartley.
“I’m pretty confident with where we are right now,” she said. “I think that our chances of getting into the NCAA Tournament are a lot better.”
Entering the weekend tied with Iowa (13-13, 9-9) for fifth place in the conference, a win on Friday was a necessity to remain in fifth. Iowa defeated Michigan on Saturday to remain tied with MSU.
In Friday’s match, the Spartans set a three-game record for block assists with 34. It was the third highest total for a match in MSU history.
The Spartans outblocked the Hawkeyes 18 to 8 for the match. Senior middle hitter Sarah Gustin and sophomore Angela Morley led MSU with eight block assists each.
Gustin also led the Spartans in the match with 16 kills on .419 hitting. It was Gustin’s second game playing middle this season.
MSU head coach Chuck Erbe said Gustin’s inside play continued to impress him. He said her decision-making and leadership in the middle is too valuable to move back to the outside.
“Gustin is going to stay in the middle,” he said. “She just gives us so much experience. She gives us a bonafide Big Ten presence in the middle.”
Erbe said despite the outcome, the Spartans showed resolve, adding they just fell short.
“I feel we’ve made a lot of improvement,” he said. “I felt we had a good team on the floor.”
The changes made to the lineup last weekend, moving Gustin to the middle and sophomore outside hitter Kyla Smith into the starting lineup, continued to produce results.
In Friday’s match Smith set career highs in kills (13), digs (11) and block assists (3).
Erbe said Smith has always played well in practices, but added she has struggled during past matches in limited time.
“She does a lot of things well,” he said. “She’s starting to translate it onto the court. She just needs to be consistent.”
Erbe said the current lineup could be the last change of the season and that the team is still waiting to see if senior middle Jessica Sanborn will return from her broken foot.
He said there’s a chance Sanborn could return to action in the NCAA Tournament.
“That’s day-to-day,” he said. “We’re hoping she can get back on the court this week.”
MSU will spend the week preparing for its final two matches of the regular season. The Spartans play Northwestern and No. 4 Wisconsin at Jenison Field House this Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Gustin said MSU believes a win over Northwestern would guarantee it a tournament berth. She said that’s all the Spartans have left to play for.
“Basically, what we’ve done so far means nothing,” she said. “All we have left is the NCAA Tournament to prove ourselves. Once we make the tournament it’s all open.”
