Three times this season, the Spartan volleyball team has traveled to play a Big Ten opponent. All three journeys resulted in losses.
The Spartans (9-3, 2-3 Big Ten) will try to snap their road-losing streak at 7 p.m. Saturday when they play the Purdue Boilermakers (1-9, 1-3) in West Lafayette, Ind.
Sophomore defensive specialist Stephanie Knopp said the Spartans’ road woes have left the team members scratching their heads.
“I don’t exactly know why we’re having trouble on the road,” she said. “But this weekend we are definitely going to focus on solving it.”
The Boilermakers have struggled so far this season, but the young team hopes to put it together against an MSU team coming off a tough loss Wednesday night at Michigan.
“We’ve played a tough schedule, and we have a young team,” Purdue head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer said. “What we’re looking to do is to try and stay close and put ourselves in a position where we can potentially win.”
Outside hitter Maegen Petersen carries much of the slack for the Boilermakers’ attack, leading the team with 2.68 kills per game and 2.65 digs per game.
Hulsmeyer said his team has an advantage playing at home, but he expects the Spartans will be focused on winning one on the road.
“I think, always in the Big Ten, you have to be able to win on your home court,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we get Michigan State after a Wednesday match, so I know they will be rested and ready to play.”
Despite Purdue’s lackluster record, Spartan assistant coach Todd Dagenais said Purdue will be as tough as any conference team.
“I wouldn’t expect Purdue to come out any differently than any other team in the Big Ten,” he said. “I expect Purdue will battle from the time the first whistle blows until the whistle blows again.
“That’s the kind of intensity we’re going to have to match.”
The Spartans will once again face a team that will try and lengthen rallies in an attempt to force the Spartans into mistakes.
Dagenais said the Spartans will use the extra days of practice between games to work on individual game skills and situations. The Spartans get two days of practice after the U-M loss because of this week’s Wednesday and Saturday match schedule.
“I think what we really need to do is focus on the kinds of things that are costing us points,” Dagenais said. “We need to sharpen our skills fighting and battling throughout an entire rally.”
Freshman outside hitter Kim Schram said the Spartans need to respect Purdue and the challenges it presents, but, more importantly, the Spartans need to have their heads in the right place.
“It’s going to be a total mental thing for us because we have everything else we need to win these games,” she said.
“We need to be emotionally consistent throughout the game.”
And the team is looking to take something from its loss to U-M.
Junior middle blocker Angela Morley said there is no need to give up on the young Spartans, especially after a tough loss.
“I don’t think there needs to be impatience with our team,” Morley said.
“Each game we go into we’re going to learn something and it’s only going to help us.”
