Penn State is 24-0 this season and has won all 12 conference matches, having yet to even drop a set this season. The team has won all 72 of the sets in which it’s played.

“I think they’re a team that’s really going to go down in history (as one) of the best teams ever,” George said. “I’m excited for our conference that we have that type of team.”

The last time the Spartans (12-11, 4-8) played Penn State, MSU lost 3-0 but gave the Nittany Lions a run in the second set, losing 25-19. This time the Spartans look to give them more than just a run in a set.

“The thing about Penn State is they are so talented and they are not as challenged in the Big Ten as they would be against other top-ranked teams,” senior defensive specialist Heather McDaniel said. “So they can get very complacent and maybe even lazy. I think that we need to jump on that and just come out totally aggressive, in the first set at least, hopefully take a set off them without them expecting it because they’re not expecting a lot of competition. So if we come out with a competitive spirit, never giving up, being totally 100 percent aggressive, I think we can surprise Penn State.”

But the challenge won’t be done after the top-ranked Lions leave town. Indiana (14-10, 6-6), coming off four wins in the past two weeks, two over ranked opponents, beat the Spartans the last time out 3-1 in Bloomington, Ind.

To beat the Hoosiers, the team is looking for more consistency, something it’s been struggling to find all season.

Last weekend, the Spartans beat then-No. 25 Wisconsin 3-2 in Madison, then got swept the next day by Northwestern, who only had one conference win before the match.

“Indiana, I think we’ll just try and stay focused,” freshman outside hitter Kyndra Abron said. “I think that was our biggest problem, we didn’t come into the game mentally prepared and play our best.”

The Spartans also will need to hold down Indiana senior middle blocker Erica Short, who this season has 441 kills and 180 digs and 77 blocks.

“She’s been having a really great year, so if we can slow her down, get some good touches on her with our block, get her over thinking a little bit, I think we can have some success against Indiana,” McDaniel said.