The MSU volleyball team could be playing in its biggest match of the year so far when it takes on Michigan at 7 p.m. today at Cliff Keen Arena in Ann Arbor.
The No. 18 Spartans (11-3 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) and the Wolverines (9-5, 3-1) have their ongoing intrastate rivalry to deal with and both are tied for third in the conference in the charge toward a Big Ten Championship.
“This match will be a war between two schools,” MSU head coach Chuck Erbe said. “I think the outcome of this match will come down to the team that maintains the most poise and makes the least amount of errors.”
Erbe also said the teams are near “carbon copies” of each other.
The Spartans and Wolverines have faced all the same Big Ten opponents this season, defeating Ohio State, Indiana and Iowa, while losing to Minnesota.
Adding to the similarities between the teams, both have similar statistics. MSU has a hitting percentage of .265 while the Wolverines have one of .255.
The two teams average just more than 16 kills per game and both have three hitters with more than three kills per contest slated to be in the lineup.
Like most Spartan-Wolverine matchups, it is more than just another game. MSU’s pride is on the line, several players said.
Beginning in 1990, a “State Pride” flag was created, going to the university that wins the season series. If the series is tied, there are a couple of tie-breakers, but a win in tonight’s match helps the odds.
The “State Pride” flag has been filled with Spartan numbers recently. The Wolverines won the flag the first three years, but since Erbe took the helm, MSU has won seven of the last nine years.
“We’re going to go into the matchup respecting U-M just as we respect all Big Ten opponents, but at the same time, there is that underlying rivalry - the fight for the spirit flag.” junior middle Jenny Rood said.
But flag aside, the win-loss statistics have been very similar recently. During the last three years the home team has won each matchup.
One match the Spartans are probably trying to forget is their breakdown in Ann Arbor last year. Up 2-0 going into intermission, the Spartans lost the final three games to lose the match, 3-2.
“That was last year’s team, and it’s a totally different team on the court this year,” Rood said. “This year, it’s going to be a battle with different players on the court.”
U-M is led by Jennifer Gandolph, who has 195 kills this season, just under four per game which is seventh in the Big Ten.
Gandolph also leads the team in digs with 3.35 per contest, fifth in the conference.
Preseason All-Big Ten selection Erin Moore balances out the Wolverine attack with 169 kills - 3.31 per game - while the setter Lisa Gamalski guides both attackers with 12.8 assists per game.
Regardless of the fearsome Wolverine attack, U-M provides just another roadblock for the Spartans.
“When you’re fighting for the Big Ten Championship, every match is for that Big Ten Championship and this team is just hungry to beat somebody” Rood said.
“We just take it one match at a time, and Michigan is the next one coming up.”
