It didn't take long for volleyball head coach Cathy George to get her first win at home - it came Saturday in a sweep against Kent State.

But after this weekend, it'll be awhile before the Spartans come back to Jenison Field House. After MSU hosts the Spartan Invitational, the team hits the road for six straight matches, first traveling to Lawrence, Kan., for the Jayhawk Invitational and then to Coral Gables, Fla., for the Orange and Green Challenge.

Then the Spartans are back home Sept. 21 to open the Big Ten season against Michigan before hitting the road for three more consecutive weeks.

"Going on the road for that many weeks without home cooking can be a little exhausting, but we're looking to come back and get ready to play the University of Michigan," George said Monday at her weekly press conference.

"Things are coming together - we have, not a very large roster, but we have a roster that is quality."

For now, the Spartans' focus shifts to the invitational, which includes MSU, Wichita State, South Florida and Ball State. MSU plays three straight nights all at 7 p.m. beginning Thursday against Wichita State.

Defense wins

George said the team this year will focus on the defensive aspects of the game in order to stop some of the strengths of opponent, which is a different philosophy than the offensive focus from years past.

"We have five defensive specialists that are very solid and we do have depth - the one area we have a lot of depth," she said. "We want to capitalize on our defensive efforts and really improve that part of our game in the Big Ten."