The MSU volleyball team offered a glimpse into the upcoming season this weekend in the Green and White exhibition match at Jenison Field House.
The Green team won the exhibition, winning the first two games of the night, 30-24 and 32-30, before the White team took the third and final game, 30-26.
While it was a chance for the team to shake off its first-game jitters, it highlighted problems the Spartans needs to fix before the season starts next week, head coach Chuck Erbe said.
"I'm glad we have a week," Erbe said. "We need to go into the gym and keep working for it. The only way to get better is to keep practicing."
The game was a good representation of what happens when the team is doing everything right, and what happens when things fall apart, senior outside hitter Kim Schram said.
"The White side couldn't pass, couldn't dig," said Schram, who played on the White team. "It showed a lot of things we have to work out. The Green team had control of all three games."
The team struggled with service errors, totaling 29 throughout the night.
A reason for the inconsistencies may be adjusting to new setters - junior Mickey Davis and freshman Maggie Griffin - and also playing in different lineups while starting roster is being determined, Erbe said.
The Spartans need to get better offensively, Erbe said. One of the team's goals is to have more consistency, reaching 28 percent hitting every night.
While there are things that need to be smoothed out, teamwork and intensity are not among the things that need to be changed.
"We're right where we need to be," Erbe said.
Junior middle and team co-captain Brooke Langston, who was on the Green team, had a strong presence on the court with 14 kills, six digs, one block solo and one service ace. Freshman outside hitter Katie Johnson, also on the Green team had 12 kills, five digs, one block and one service ace.
Senior outside hitter Diana Steplyk, who played on the Green team, said while the team struggled with problems like service errors, communication was strong throughout the team.
It is clear the team is more than anxious to face a new opponent. They will get the chance next weekend during Coca Cola/MSU Volleyball Invitational hosted at Jenison Field House next Friday and Saturday. MSU will face off against Ohio at 7 p.m. Friday, and will play St. John's at noon, and Florida A&M at 8 p.m. Saturday.
"We have been playing each other everyday," Schram said. "There are certain shots that another team might not get, but these girls know it's my sweet spot.
"It was fun to play. But we're ready for a new team."
