South Bend, Ind. - The MSU volleyball team didn't think it would be this easy, but it is heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1996.
The Spartans (21-11) dominated the Fighting Irish (24-8) in the Joyce Center on Sunday afternoon, winning in three games 30-28, 30-20 and 30-23. The victory snapped Notre Dame's 36-match home winning streak.
"I can't believe we're going to the sweet 16," senior middle Angela Morley said. "It's been a long time and I've wanted to get back since I've been here - that's been five years."
Every part of the Spartans game was at its best Sunday. Four Spartans reached double-digits in kills and the team hit .314 for the match.
Junior middle Jenny Rood led the charge with 13 kills while recording only one error for a .600 attack percentage. Senior outside hitter Kyla Smith and Morley notched 12 apiece while sophomore outside hitter Kim Schram added 10.
But even more impressive than the MSU offense was the defense. All nine of the Spartans who saw the floor recorded at least one dig for a team total of 53. The block at the net was wall-like, recording 15 total.
"You have to give credit to our defense," Rood said. "They played out of their minds and had a mission tonight to not let one ball hit the floor.
"They were just all over the frickin' floor."
Serving, which has been an Achilles heel for the Spartans all year, was very impressive. MSU notched only five service aces, but those always seemed to come in spurts and played vital roles in momentum shifts.
Game one was a thrilling sight for fans. The game included nine ties and three lead changes, but the majority of the match was played with either team only holding a two-point cushion.
The Spartans trailed 5-3 early before stringing together a 7-2 run to take a 10-7 lead. The Fighting Irish eventually tied the score at 11 and took a big 18-15 lead.
With the score knotted at 19, the Spartans took a lead they would never relinquish. The Irish did make it close by pulling within one at 29-28, but after an MSU timeout, the Spartans claimed the last point and the game.
"Game one was very crucial to block any momentum and instill the belief system in our team and put doubt in their minds," MSU head coach Chuck Erbe said. "Had Notre Dame won game one, we would have had an even more difficult challenge."
MSU dominated the second game. The Spartans broke a 6-6 tie with a 14-2 run in which the Irish used both of their timeouts.
Notre Dame never got within eight the rest of the way.
"Game two really put Notre Dame's backs against the wall," Erbe said. "When you have a young team and you're down 0-2, that's a lot of pressure."
The Spartans figured the Irish would come out and take charge in the third game. Notre Dame did jump to a quick 4-1 lead, but that was short lived as the Spartans went on a 9-2 run to force the Irish to take a timeout at 10-6.
MSU would allow Notre Dame to eventually knot the score at 17. But soon after the Spartans would go on a seven-point run and the Irish could never recover.
"The one thing I tried to reinforce to our players is that we are battle tested," Erbe said. "Every single player has been in the NCAA Tournament and been in this situation.
"I'm very pleased, very proud. We're just excited, proud, relieved - all the emotions in the world."
The Spartans will travel to UC-Santa Barbara for the West Regionals. Their first match will be Thursday against the tournament's No. 1 seed, USC (27-1). The time of that contest has yet to be determined.
The winner of that contest will play the UC-Santa Barbara-Pepperdine winner.
