It has been a long and eventful week leading up to the Spartans' second consecutive NCAA Tournament.
On Thursday afternoon, the squad boarded a plane to Boston, Mass.
Waiting for the No. 3 Spartans in Boston are three other nationally ranked teams - No. 8 Northeastern, No. 14 Harvard and No. 15 Connecticut.
The Harvard Crimson are first in line, toting a 12-5 overall record into the 11 a.m. Saturday matchup with MSU (18-2).
MSU had hoped to host at least one round of the championship tournament but wasn't upset with the selection, Madison said.
"The team's excited," she said. "Yes, we wanted to play at home and be near the comfort of the green and white, but if we have to go, we won't waste any energy worrying about it. We're just going to go and play our game."
On Sunday, the team left Columbus, Ohio, clutching their first-ever Big Ten Tournament title. After blanking Indiana 3-0 in the first round Friday and posting a 3-2 victory over Penn State on Saturday, MSU shut out Michigan 3-0 in the title bout.
The victory was the Spartans' first over the Wolverines in five years.
Tuesday, the team gathered at head coach Michele Madison's house to watch the NCAA selection show. Winning its conference tourney earned MSU an automatic bid.
The Spartans have yet to face any of the three opponents this season, something Madison said brings extra fun to each match.
The winner of the match will advance to the second round and battle at 2 p.m. Sunday for rights to the Final Four held in Louisville, Ky., Friday and 24.
Northeastern (17-4) and Connecticut (15-7) will duel at 2 p.m. Saturday, with the victor advancing to Sunday's match.
A year ago, MSU was eliminated in the second round of the tournament by the Wolverines after losing a 2-1 overtime heartbreaker.
Madison said although the Spartans don't have many reports on the teams they'll face, her team has no fear of the unknown.
"Now it's all tough - we're playing for the national championship and everything's tough," she said.
"In the NCAA tournament every team is the team to beat because it's only the team that wins that moves on.
"It's all about empty the bucket, chase the rabbit and put your best game on the field. We know there is no life after that."
