The No. 14 MSU volleyball team plays No. 20 Wisconsin tonight, but in reality, the Spartans will be playing against themselves.
In the last four games, MSU (9-4 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) has not won or lost, but rather been given the win or had it taken away by opponents. In the four-game stretch, MSU is 2-2, with wins over American University and Ohio State and losses to No. 12 Penn State and Michigan.
Two unimpressive wins and two unimpressive losses.
"Good teams play like a well-oiled machine," senior middle Jenny Rood said. "Right now, we're kind of squeaking."
Although the team still has a good record, the trend of playing well in the non-conference and then struggling in the always tough Big Ten seems to be continuing. The Spartans are looking to break the trend early this year.
MSU will need to show more tenacity and have an aggressive style of play against Wisconsin (10-3 overall, 2-0 Big Ten). Otherwise, MSU is in danger of falling to 1-3 in the conference and digging themselves deeper into an already deep hole.
"We've always been a team that performs very well with our backs against the wall," sophomore middle Brooke Langston said. "We have to treat everyone that comes in here as if they are the No. 1 team. We have to fight like it's our last game."
Right now, MSU is very predictable and can't seem to get into its system until game three in matches. By that time, it's usually too late.
"I think that we have some things to sort out amongst ourselves." Langston said. "We've been told again and again that we have more talent than anyone else, but until we prove it - until we show it - it doesn't mean much."
The hard part is the Spartans did prove it earlier in the season with wins over numerous quality opponents. Victories over three ranked teams, North Carolina, Santa and San Diego, gave the Spartans proof they were deserving of their ranking.
"Somehow as a team, we have to figure out how to make some changes and make things click," Rood said. "I don't know what it's going to take, but we're going to find out real soon."
The Spartans either will wake up Saturday morning feeling good about their performance or still wondering what's wrong.
