The preseason Big Ten volleyball poll gives Spartan fans reason for optimism, as MSU was picked to finish third in the league behind Ohio State and Wisconsin.
The Spartans finished last season with a 21-8 record, 13-7 in the conference. But a 9-1 second-half Big Ten romp and second-round advancement in the NCAA Tournament foreshadowed things to come.
Head coach Chuck Erbe said the preseason ranking is a tribute to last season’s finish.
“I like the three spot. It’s a step up for us,” he said. “It just shows that the things we’re doing are working.”
The Spartans were last picked to finish third in the preseason in 1998, and they equaled the prediction. The team finished in a tie for fourth last season and hopes to improve on that this time around.
“As a team our goal is to win the Big Ten this year,” senior middle blocker Angela Morley said. “I seriously believe we have a good chance to win the Big Ten.”
Morley said being picked to finish third has advantages. The Spartans are not so high that other teams will gun for them, but it’s not so low that MSU is disrespected.
MSU received further recognition, as Morley and junior setter Nikki Colson were both selected to the 13-member preseason All-Big Ten team. The last time multiple Spartans made the preseason list was 2000, when Jessica Sanborn, Christie Landry and Erin Hartley took home the honors.
Both Morley and Colson earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades at the end of last season.
Morley led the conference in blocks last season with 163, and her 1.55 blocks per game ranked 10th nationally. With 427 career block assists and 491 total blocks, Morley ranks third all-time at MSU in both categories.
“She has worked her way toward being one of the best middles in the Big Ten, if not the best,” Erbe said. “It’s a tribute to all her hard work.”
Hard work is something Colson knows about as well. When she arrived as a freshman in 2000, the thought of playing behind then-senior setter Landry never once interrupted her preparation.
Colson continued to work hard and is entering her second-consecutive season as a starter and team captain.
“I felt that when we recruited Nikki, she was the best setter in the nation,” Erbe said. “Things are moving along the direction that we had planned for with Nikki’s class.”
As the head of the class, Colson made her mark last season when she ranked third in the Big Ten and 12th nationally with 12.99 assists per game. Her 1,364 assists and average per game last year were fifth-best in a single season at MSU.
Erbe said Colson’s freshman class - which also includes junior middle blocker Jenny Rood and junior defensive specialists Stephanie Knopp and Emmy Miller - has shown marked improvement and high participation in summer workouts has helped that along. Erbe said the team wasn’t prepared to start the season last year, but he expects things to be different this year.
“Everyone has improved so much this summer,” Morley said. “We’ve all been up training.”
All told, the Spartans will return five starters from last year’s squad. The level of talent is enough to get Erbe excited about the 2002 season, and a strong start will help him relax.
MSU finished last season ranked No. 19, and the Volleyball Monthly rankings have the Spartans No. 11 this preseason. Erbe said No. 11 is a “comforting position,” as it shows improvement but isn’t enough to cloud anyone’s head.
“I feel that this is one of the best teams we’ve had in a long time,” Erbe said. “I’m just going to let the season unfold.
“I can’t wait for the season to begin.”
