For the first weekend this season, the MSU women’s volleyball team only has one match to worry about. The No. 21 Spartans (7-2) will take the court against Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. today in Jenison Field House.
With the Big Ten season kicking off next week, the team wants to be in perfect form during its match against the Huskies (7-3).
“I think this matchup will show what all of our hard work over the summer and the practicing so far in the season has gotten us,” freshman middle Brooke Langston said. “This will be the final mark on our progress and we’ll see where we are.”
MSU comes into this contest on a two-game winning streak - but that streak was preceded by a two-game losing streak.
“Since our lull against Wright State and Georgia Tech, every game is important,” freshman defensive specialist Marley Bellwood said. “Right now, we’re taking the outlook that every game means everything.
“It’s not like we have a game Saturday, so we don’t have to save anything during Friday’s match.”
Spartan head coach Chuck Erbe said he scheduled only one match for the weekend to rest his team in preparation for the Big Ten season. Now that the Spartans’ first conference opponent, No. 8 Minnesota, has shot up the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, Erbe is even happier the team has an extra day of rest.
“I wanted a real solid matchup for our kids before the start of the Big Ten, but I didn’t want two matches,” Erbe said. “I saw this as somewhat of a minibreak before we get into the Big Ten, and Northern Illinois won the MAC Championship last season.”
During the matchup, three Spartans will be looking for significant milestones. Senior middle Angela Morley is a mere eight kills from reaching 750 for her career, and senior outside hitter Kyla Smith is just four kills shy of reaching 500 for her career.
The third Spartan won’t be seeing any action on the floor, but he’ll definitely be involved in the game; Erbe will be looking for his 200th win as MSU volleyball coach. He would become only the second volleyball coach in MSU history to eclipse the 200-win mark.
But putting the statistics aside, the Spartans are more focused on leaving Jenison tonight with an 8-2 record.
But the Spartans know Northern Illinois isn’t going to be an easy opponent. The Huskies bring a five-game winning streak into East Lansing after winning the Country Inn and Suites Classic last weekend.
Leading the way for the Huskies is Jen VonderHaar. The 6-foot middle recorded 51 kills in three matches during the weekend, reaping tournament MVP honors.
Even though the Huskies lead the all-time series 3-2, MSU was victorious in the last meeting, a 3-0 sweep in 1988.
