With three weeks left to make their mark on the season, MSU volleyball head coach Chuck Erbe insists the Spartans' destiny is in their own hands as they shoot for an NCAA Tournament bid.
"That's at the front of my forehead," Erbe said. "We can still salvage this season."
It's a long shot, but a shot, he said. If the team (10-12 overall, 5-9 Big Ten) can pull off some impressive upsets and bring its record to .500, there is still a good chance at receiving a bid, Erbe said. The team is currently two games below .500.
Last year, the NCAA granted tournament bids to seven Big Ten teams, including one to MSU. The Spartans' goal is to win four of the next six games, which would even out the team's record.
"At times, we've gotten really strong performances out of every single player," Erbe said. "Have we had strong performances out of everyone at the same time? Not yet.
"But we have the potential, and if we play to the potential, anything's possible."
Senior outside hitter Diana Steplyk shares Erbe's optimism.
"We just have to make the move to differentiate our spot and put us in contention for a bid," she said.
The team has to focus on taking down "easier" teams like Iowa and Northwestern, then needs to upset two of the four other teams the Spartans have left to play, Steplyk said.
Problem is, those teams include No. 5 Minnesota, No. 4 Penn State, No. 8 Ohio State and Wisconsin. These teams are also at the top of the Big Ten and each have records over .700 this season.
But the MSU's 3-1 victory over Illinois showed the team can defeat some daunting teams, Erbe said.
"We were competitive with ranked teams," Erbe said. "We've shown in the second half of the season that we play really well at home."
Upcoming matches against Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State and Ohio State will all be at home. The team will face Northwestern and Wisconsin in away matches.
Senior outside hitter Kim Schram said it would be a mistake for the team to focus on the long-term goal of the tournament, rather than playing in the moment.
"What has been working for this team - with such a young group of players - has not been having long term goals but rather the game-by-game, play-by-play, kind of mentality," Schram said.
But earning a bid is a big deal, especially to seniors, Steplyk said.
"You don't want to go out not making the tournament," she said. "It's staple for the program.
"It's a reflection of your team as a whole."
But success at the end of the season, Schram said, should not be measured by whether the team could make it into the tournament.
"If we can end one of the worst seasons in, like, 10 years, and for the girls to walk away from that together and supporting each other to the very end, I would think that would be success for us."
