With just two matches remaining in the first half of the Spartan volleyball team’s conference schedule, they have a chance to issue a major statement.
The Spartans face two of the Big Ten’s finest in No. 11 Penn State at 7 p.m. today and No. 10 Ohio State at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Sophomore setter Nikki Colson said the underdog status could help the Spartan (11-4, 4-4 Big Ten) squad.
“We need to try and be steady and calm, and when we get some breaks, we need to capitalize on them,” she said. “We have no choice to play like we have nothing to lose, because in honesty- that’s the reality.”
Both matches will be played at Jenison Field House, which seems to be a major boast for MSU. The Spartans are 9-0 on their home court.
Senior outside hitter Erin Hartley, the Spartans’ most consistent attacker with four kills per game, said she is psyched to be back home after four straight road matches.
“I’m really excited playing this weekend, especially playing on our court, because I think we play really well on our home floor,” she said. “Penn State and Ohio State are really in for a surprise if we play as well as we can.”
The Nittany Lions (13-3, 6-2) return two of last season’s All-Big Ten selections in outside hitters Mishka Levy and Katie Schumacher.
Schumacher leads Penn State with 4.76 kills per game and Levy, who is rebounding from an early season foot injury, adds 2.92 kills a game for the Big Ten’s No. 3 squad.
MSU junior middle blocker Angela Morley said the Spartans need to have an effective block at the net in order to limit Levy and Schumacher.
“I think we need to have a huge block,” Morley said. “Penn State has some great hitters on the outside, so we need to be quick and get outside put up a huge block on them.”
The Spartans have dropped its last nine matches to Penn State, the team favored in the preseason to win the conference.
The Buckeyes (15-1, 7-1) attack is almost as heralded as Penn State’s. Middle blockers Erin Baker and Suzie Stiling have the two best hitting percentages in the conference, at .419 and .411, respectively.
Add in outside hitters Anne Botica and Stacey Gordon and Katie Virtue, one of the best setters in the conference, to the Buckeyes’ offensive mix, and it’s a recipe for balanced attacking.
Gordon, who is only a freshman, has been the biggest offensive surprise for Ohio State, leading the squad with 3.95 kills per game.
Spartan head coach Chuck Erbe said playing teams this good anytime in the season isn’t easy, but taking them on in consecutive nights is just plain tough.
“They’re two of the top three programs in the Big Ten, and it’s always going to be a challenge to play these teams back-to-back,” he said.
The weekend gives the Spartans a chance to improve on their tie for fifth in the conference standings and gives the Spartan faithful a chance to see the conference’s elite.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for some people to come out and watch some great volleyball,” Erbe said.
“Our teams have always competed well against them here, and I see no reason why that wouldn’t continue.”
