When the Michigan Wolverines and the Spartan volleyball team square off at 7 p.m. today at Jenison Field House, both teams’ coaches and players will have plenty to think about.
A previous match, a state flag, conference position and bragging rights will all be on the line.
The Spartans (11-6, 4-6 Big Ten) dropped the final three games to lose 3-2 to the Wolverines (10-7, 6-4) on Oct. 3, and Spartan head coach Chuck Erbe said they won’t forget it.
“Certainly the way we lost at Michigan is very much in the front of our minds - knowing that we put ourselves in a position to win and that we couldn’t close the deal,” he said.
The Spartans are now in a “must-win situation,” Erbe said, if they want to compete for a NCAA Tournament berth.
The Wolverines sit at fifth place in the Big Ten, and the Spartans are in a tie for seventh.
The teams are also competing for the “State Pride” flag. MSU has owned the flag, which is Michigan’s state flag with the motto “Tuebor” or “I will defend” on it, since last season.
Each season, the team that wins the most games in MSU and Michigan’s two matches wins the flag. In the case of a tie, the team with the most points overall wins.
And if history stands, the Spartans should be able to use the home court advantage to keep the flag in East Lansing.
The Spartans have downed U-M seven straight times in Jenison.
Sophomore setter Nikki Colson said despite having the home-floor advantage, the Spartans know they are in for a tough match.
“There’s going to be a lot of emotion during the match, and we want some revenge,” Colson said. “It’s going to be a battle, and I’ve got no doubt we’ll be ready to play.”
U-M will bring a different look than in the last match with the Spartans. The Wolverines lost outside hitter Chantel Reedus and her 3.11 kills per game to a knee injury she sustained at Illinois on Oct. 12.
Reedus slammed home 16 kills in the previous match between the two squads.
“We’re starting to get a little more comfortable with the new lineup we have out there,” U-M head coach Mark Rosen said. “Last weekend I thought we played well.”
The Wolverines lost 3-0 to No. 10 Ohio State last Friday before rebounding to sweep the then-ranked No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions.
“Michigan is going to come down here with a lot of confidence, particularly after their win over Penn State,” Erbe said. “Our team is just going to have to measure up to the test.”
Heading up the Wolverine attack is middle blocker Erin Moore. Moore ripped 16 kills against the Spartans, including four in the deciding fifth game.
Rosen said the decisive factor in the Wolverines previous win over the Spartans - consistency - should play a key role in tonight’s match too.
“This game is going to come down to which of the teams plays their best game from start-to-finish,” he said. “It’ll come down to who puts it all together for the longest period of time.”
But senior outside hitter Erin Hartley said the Spartans have no intentions of letting the Wolverines hang around late into the match.
“I think we want some revenge,” she said. “We know we’re capable of beating them and the fact that we lost to them in five games after winning the first two is really motivation to put them away this time.”
