Walking away with losses to both No. 1 Minnesota and Iowa this weekend would have been disappointing enough for the MSU volleyball team.

But now the Spartans (5-5 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) must wait for news on whether junior middle Megan Wallin will be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

"We're trying to determine whether it was an ACL tear," head coach Chuck Erbe said. "If it was, she'll be out for the season."

Wallin was injured during the first game of the weekend's Big Ten opener. Without her on the floor this weekend, the team could not recover, Erbe said.

"We really missed the offense Megan brought to the floor," Erbe said.

The Spartans were 0-3 against Minnesota on Friday and had a -.024 attack percentage with only senior outside hitter Kim Schram posting more than five kills in that match.

Freshman libero Tracy Bellwood started the first match of her collegiate career against the Golden Gophers with six digs. Senior outside hitter Diana Steplyk had seven digs.

While Minnesota brought expected challenges, the Hawkeyes also came on strong, Erbe said.

In Iowa, the percentage improved and the team defeated the Hawkeyes in the second game of the match, but then were defeated 3-1 with less blocking and more errors than Iowa.

Iowa is led by first-year head coach Cindy Fredrick. Last year, Iowa was 6-24 and in the last 10 years, MSU has 17 victories compared with Iowa's three.

The last time MSU started the Big Ten conference 0-2 was in 1994. That year was also the last time the Spartans lost in Iowa City.

Schram had 20 kills and a .345 attack percentage against the Hawkeyes and junior middle Brooke Langston had 10 kills with a .152 attack percentage, three assists and seven digs. Freshman setter Maggie Griffin posted 72 assists and 23 digs against both teams, and Schram had 35 kills and 11 digs during the weekend.

During the nonconference schedule, Wallin impressed Erbe with her hitting and experience. Wallin broke a school record after a .929 hitting percentage and had 13 kills during this year's Coca-Cola/MSU Volleyball Invitational, earning a spot on the invitational's All-Tournament Team.

The previous record was set in 1995 when Corie Richard posted a .923 hitting average.

Wallin then broke her own record with 18 kills and a .359 hitting average against Wichita State at the Green Mill Restaurant Tournament.

Wallin now leads the team with the highest attack percentage of .321 and is the only Spartan hitting more than .300. She is second to Schram in kills with 101 and 3.26 per game on the season. She has 25 digs and 21 blocks this year.

The Spartans next play Indiana in the Big Ten home opener at 7 p.m. Friday in Jenison Field House. The team then faces Purdue at 7 p.m. Saturday for its fourth conference game of the season.

Wallin had her first kill in the first match of the Big Ten season when her knee was injured.

If she is out for certain, it could be devastating for the team's entire season, Erbe said.

"We lost a captain, our No. 1 hitter on the team - our most experienced middle," Erbe said.

"It's going to take time to make up for that loss, if we can."