The MSU volleyball team return to Jenison, after facing some tough Big Ten competition on the road.
The No. 25 Spartans are returning home after two straight weeks of grueling Big Ten competition. MSU (12-6 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) accumulated a 1-3 mark over the past two weekends playing some of the Big Ten’s elite teams in their own buildings.
During their road trip, MSU has fallen seven spots from 18th to 25th.
MSU head coach Chuck Erbe said sometimes playing on the road is difficult and it makes you enjoy playing in your own building.
“The road warriors finally get to come home,” he said. “There is nothing better than sleeping in your own bed and playing on your home court.”
Lucky for the Spartans, they are 6-0 on their home floor this year. Moreover, sitting sixth in the Big Ten, MSU has played the top four teams in the conference away from Jenison Field House.
And with no postseason conference tournament, it leaves each Big Ten team playing the other twice. That means the Spartans won’t have to travel to face the Big Ten’s big wigs in the second half.
“I certainly hope that bodes well for us,” Erbe said. “I think all teams are more comfortable playing at home.”
One down, one to go
Against Northwestern on Saturday, senior middle Angela Morley became the Spartans all-time leader in block assists. But with one record down, there’s another an arm-length away. She is sitting at 571 total blocks for her Spartan career, 10 shy of that MSU record.
The stuff came with the Spartans holding a 24-15 edge over the Wildcats in game three. Wildcat Iwona Lodzik tried to go cross court near the right antenna, but Morley and Smith created a wall sending the ball back in Lodzik’s face. With No. 495, Morley moved past former MSU All-American Dana Cooke who had 494 block assists. It also bumped her up to fourth place all-time in Big Ten history.
Regardless, Morley wasn’t going to take the honor without giving credit where she thought it was due.
“A block assist means that someone else was there to help me block,” Morley said. “I think it just shows how many good blockers I’ve had playing with me these four years.”
Respected defense
For the third time in four weeks, a Spartan opponent was named the Big Ten Player of the Week.
Wisconsin’s Erin Byrd took home the honor this week after racking up a career-best 29 kills against MSU on Friday night.
Two weeks ago, Ohio State’s Stacey Gordon tied a Jenison Field House record with a 36-kill performance to get the award.
On Sept. 27, MSU’s first Big Ten match of the year, Golden Gopher Cassie Busse led her team with 15 kills.
Injury update
Junior outside hitter Sara Villwock is out of her walking cast. After suffering a left foot injury in late September, she has been on the road to recovery, sitting out of the last seven matches.
Erbe said she will be seeing limited action on the floor in practice, but won’t play in a match until she is 100 percent recovered.
