The MSU volleyball team will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament starting at 5 p.m. on Friday at Jenison Field House.

The Spartans will play Dayton (25-9), the Atlantic-10 Conference champions, at 8 p.m. after No. 9 Nebraska (26-4) and Valparaiso (27-7) square off in the opener.

This is the first time since 1998 that the Spartans are hosting the tournament.

"We feel like we've been given a gift and a new lease on the season," junior outside hitter Kim Schram said. "It's going to be incredible here."

The atmosphere at Jenison is expected to be crazy with four teams and the excitement of the tournament. MSU had more than 2,000 fans on senior night and is expected to draw well with Nebraska coming to town and the proximity of Valparaiso and Dayton.

It also is the first time Valparaiso and Dayton have ever made it to the NCAA Tournament and neither of them have easy tasks. The Spartans are hoping to take advantage of the Flyers' tournament inexperience.

"Our experience in the Big Ten season and in past tournaments give us an advantage," Schram said. "We have the opportunity to leave this weekend feeling good about ourselves and our season."

To feel good, MSU will have to beat a solid Dayton team and advance to the second round with a chance to play in the Sweet 16 in Lincoln, Neb., next weekend.

The Flyers are led by Erin Treadway, who averages 4.25 kills and 3.09 blocks per game. Dayton head coach Tim Horsman is in his first season at the helm after being the head man at Robert Morris for three years.

The last time the two teams played was in 2001 at the Coca-Cola/MSU Volleyball Classic, where the Spartans beat the Flyers 3-1. MSU is 3-1 all-time against Dayton.

If the Spartans can win, they will likely play the Cornhuskers, to whom they lost earlier in the season, 30-20, 30-20 and 30-24.