When the No. 14 MSU volleyball team steps onto the court at 7 p.m. today, there will be a buzz in the air - the Wolverines are in town.
People might think an MSU-Michigan volleyball match is not as intense or exciting as a hockey, football or basketball game.
The truth: If MSU were to play U-M in curling, there would a heightened level of play and state of emotions.
"It's a natural rivalry," head coach Chuck Erbe said. "It's very heated because the schools are so close to each other and in the same conference. That makes it important to the players."
But it's very important to four players in particular - setter Nikki Colson, middle Jenny Rood, defensive specialist Stephanie Knopp and defensive specialist Emmy Miller. The four MSU seniors would like nothing more than to grab a win in their final home match against the Wolverines.
"It's hard to think, 'This is the last time we will play Michigan here at home,'" Miller said. "But we definitely don't want to leave without the State Pride Flag. It's not everything, but it's something."
The State Pride Flag is equivalent to the Paul Bunyan Trophy in football. The honor of having the year "2003" placed on the flag goes to the team who wins both season matches or has the most total points in the event of a series split. And the State Pride Flag is just one aspect of the rivalry.
This season, the volleyball teams will play for points, which will go toward the Pontiac Challenge Cup for the fall season. The cup is the new trophy in the storied MSU-U-M rivalry and will take into account all matches or games between the two schools.
Also, for the ninth year in a row, Spartans fans will come out and "Jam Jenison" to watch MSU and U-M battle it out on the court. The first 500 fans will receive a free MSU volleyball "Jam Jenison" T-shirt.
"Both teams should come into Wednesday night hungry," Erbe said. "I'm looking forward to having a great crowd."
In addition to the flag, the cup and the "Jam Jenison" theme, the first week of the Big Ten season left the two schools tied in the middle of the Big Ten, each posting 1-1 conference records. Both are looking for a key win over their intrastate rival to spring them into the rest of the conference season.
"It's going to be an all-out battle," Miller said. "No matter who the better team is, the winner will be who fights the hardest."
Last year that team was Michigan, as the Wolverines swept the Spartans winning both matches. The Spartans will look for revenge this season and there is no love lost between them and the U-M players.
"Us and the Michigan (volleyball) girls do not get along," Knopp said. "We hardly know them, but just because it's Michigan, we're going to play that much harder against them. Just because of the rivalry, we get really pumped up to play them."
MSU will need to be pumped but, more importantly, focused on the task at hand. U-M features a solid lineup, including senior middle Erin Moore, who Erbe said has always been an outstanding player, and junior outside hitter Jennifer Gandolph lead the way for the Wolverines with a 4.15 and 4.11 kills-per-game average, respectively.
The Spartans have the edge in the all-time series, holding a 40-25-1 overall record and 25-8 mark at Jenison Field House.
