The No. 16 MSU volleyball team has reached the halfway point of the season. And luckily for the Spartans, they've done it with more positives than negatives.
Even though it would like to be better than 10-4 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten, the team is happy with its record and the prospects of the season's second half.
"I'm happy with the record," senior libero and co-captain Emmy Miller said. "Nobody likes to lose, but each of those matches we've lost has taught us something and we're a stronger team because of it."
A challenging nonconference schedule, in which MSU played all 10 matches on the road, had the Spartans feeling good. MSU was 8-2 in those matches, with its only two losses coming at the hands of No. 5 Georgia Tech and No. 7 Nebraska, teams with a current combined record of 30-1.
The Spartans were looking forward to a successful start to the Big Ten season, starting with four home matches. But things did not go as planned.
MSU finished the four-game home stretch with a 2-2 record. Although they would have liked to win all four or at least three matches, it was the way they played in the last match against Wisconsin that has the team eager to move on.
"Looking back at the first half, we would like to say that everything went smoothly and we played flawless, but that isn't how the first half of the season has gone," Miller said. "We've had our ups and downs - more ups than downs - but I think that this team has matured a lot and we are making great strides right now. I think it's going to set us up for success throughout the rest of the season."
The second half of the season starts this weekend when MSU travels to Purdue and Indiana as the team tries to continue with the momentum built up from the Wisconsin win. MSU hopes to forget what happened in the first 14 games and look ahead to what could be a great finish to a successful season.
"Those matches are done and over with," senior middle Jenny Rood said. "We can't sit back and reflect or dwell on our accomplishments or failures in the past. I'm expecting great things out of this team."
Injury update
MSU junior opposite side hitter Michelle Kopka was held out of the last two games because of back spasms. She attempted to practice on Thursday but left because of the pain.
"She's having an MRI to rule out any complications in her lower back," head coach Chuck Erbe said. "We're working diligently to try and resolve whatever issues created the spasms so we can get (Michelle) back playing again."
The timetable for her return is still unknown.
Sweet 16
After losing to U-M on Wednesday, MSU was sure to drop in the polls.
But the huge win on Friday against then-No. 20 Wisconsin made pollsters re-think just how far to drop the Spartans. MSU ended up falling only two spots, dropping from No. 14 to No. 16 in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25.
Around the Big Ten
One team, No. 11 Penn State (15-1, 4-0), sits alone on top of the Big Ten after the first two weeks of the season. The Nittany Lions are one of three ranked Big Ten teams, along with No. 16 MSU and No. 21 Wisconsin (11-4, 3-1).
After starting the season with five Big Ten teams in the top 25, people might think the conference has fallen off a little, but that's not true. Surprise teams Illinois (11-3, 2-2) and Purdue (10-4, 3-1) have helped to keep the conference up to par. Michigan (10-5, 2-2) and Minnesota (9-7, 2-2) also have done their share and are being recognized as both received votes in this week's poll.
Iowa (5-9, 0-4), traditionally the conference's doormat, is the only team with a losing record and has not yet won a conference match.
