The MSU volleyball team is more than ready to open its season at the Maryland Invitational this weekend.
This anticipation comes following practice after practice, with the Spartans doing nothing but scrimmaging each other.
They're sick of it.
"We're just excited to play someone different for a change," senior setter and co-captain Nikki Colson said. "We've been playing ourselves for two or three weeks now."
MSU will play three matches in a two-day span, and at this stage of the season, they are not worried about their energy but more focused on their own play.
"It's important for us to worry about our side of the net," Colson said. "Last year some matches we were worried about what the other team's jersey said."
After having those problems last season, the team had an extremely focused attitude this summer - something they think will help them not only in this tournament but throughout the rest of the season.
The Spartans hope to continue their success in season openers under head coach Chuck Erbe, where they are 8-2 and winners of six straight. However, MSU has not opened a season on the road since 1994 in South Bend, Ind.
As their season opens with 10 consecutive road matches spanning over four tournaments, the Spartans know they can't mirror last season's road performance.
"We were not a good road team last year," said senior libero and co-captain Emmy Miller. "If we do play well this weekend, that will help our confidence going into the next three tournaments."
MSU opens tournament play at 5 p.m. tonight against Villanova. The Wildcats finished sixth in their 13-team league last season. Similar to MSU, Villanova returns five starters and 11 letterwinners and has greater expectations despite being picked to finish ninth in the preseason.
Their top player is junior middle Kerri Sullivan, who led the team with 481 kills and 92 blocks in 2002. Head coach Allison Keeley is in her third year at the helm and led the team to an 18-16 record last season - Villanova's first winning season in five years.
"Villanova is a solid program out of the Big East," Erbe said. "They're not a powerhouse, but it will be a good match to get our feet wet."
On Saturday, MSU will play two games, with the opener at 1 p.m. against Tennessee. The Lady Volunteers are young but experienced, returning four starters to a squad with no seniors and only two juniors. The team will be led by a trio of sophomores in setter Julie Knytych, middle Kristen Andre and libero Moran Miltner. Last season, Tennessee finished 20-11 overall and 8-8 in the SEC.
"They're a very young but very athletic team," Erbe said. "I think it will be a good athletic test for us."
In the final game of the tournament, MSU squares off against the host team, Maryland. The Lady Terrapins went 18-14 in 2002 but lost three key players off that team and will look to some new players for success this season.
Outside hitter Lynnsy Jones is a candidate for ACC player of the year after posting school records in kills (533) and aces (55) last season.
"Maryland has two outstanding players," Erbe said. "Their returning left- and right-side players both are supposed to be very significant players in the ACC."
In its history, MSU has never played Villanova or Tennessee and has a 3-0 all-time record against Maryland.
