It might not have the madness of March or sparkle of “One Shining Moment,” but for the Spartan volleyball team, the NCAA Volleyball Tournament doesn’t lack drama.
The No. 20 Spartans (20-7) start the drive to the final four when they play No. 25 Notre Dame in the first round of the tournament at 5 p.m. today at Wisconsin.
The match is the only one out of 32 featuring two top 25 squads.
The victor will take on the winner of the 7 p.m. match between host No. 6 Wisconsin and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Spartan head coach Chuck Erbe will see a familiar face on the opposing bench - his former player at USC, Notre Dame (22-6) head coach Debbie Brown.
Brown said she wishes she didn’t have to coach opposite her old teacher, whom she credits with cultivating her volleyball intellect.
“I have a great deal of respect for Chuck,” she said. “He’s the person who taught me the game.”
But that doesn’t mean Brown wouldn’t be happy upsetting Erbe - and MSU junior defensive specialist Emily Engel said the Spartans are well aware of the consequences of an off night.
“In the NCAAs, it’s always a must-win game,” she said. “If we play our game on our side of the net and do each thing right, the outcome will be to our favor.
“If we serve well, pass well, ball-handle well and execute well, no team’s going to beat us.”
The Spartans need to continue to get attacking balance from their middle blockers, junior Angela Morley and sophomore Jenny Rood, and outside hitters, senior Erin Hartley, junior Kyla Smith and freshman Kim Schram.
That balance would make it near impossible for the Irish to key in on Hartley, a unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection.
“(Hartley) would certainly have been easier to control if Morley and some others hadn’t emerged as so much of offensive threats lately,” Brown said. “They’ve shown over the past few matches that they’re a very balanced team, and that makes it harder to try and shut down their key players.”
But the Big East’s champion, the Fighting Irish, intends to complicate matters for the Spartans with their multipronged attack.
Middle blocker Malinda Goralski was the Big East Player of the Year behind 3.17 kills per game and 1.71 blocks per game, and outside hitter Kristy Kreher and her 3.33 kills per game and 1.04 blocks per game found a place on the All-Big East first team.
“Notre Dame is a very formidable opponent,” Erbe said. “They’ve got a great record in the Big East, and they’ve played a very strong nonconference schedule.”
And Erbe said it’s critical his players focus on the Irish - not what could lie ahead in the second round.
“Obviously going to play at Wisconsin would lend itself to some other thoughts,” he said. “But I trust the mental discipline of this team and its leadership that we’ll keep our priorities in line.”
But just because priority No. 1 is Notre Dame doesn’t mean the Spartans haven’t entertained thoughts about the only thing they couldn’t do in the second half of the conference schedule - beat the Wisconsin Badgers.
“I think it might be a problem for other teams and other teams I’ve been on in the past,” Hartley said.
“But for this team, we come out every night with 100 percent effort, and I don’t think we’re overlooking Notre Dame at all.”
