The MSU volleyball still is looking to do something this upcoming weekend it hasn’t accomplished the whole season: go undefeated in a Big Ten weekend.
The Spartans (17-7 overall, 5-7 Big Ten) have fallen short in four Big Ten weekends, going 1-1 in three of those weekends. The most painstaking weekend possibly was last week’s, when the team lost to Purdue in five sets, despite scoring more points than the Boilermakers in the match.
A two-game weekend against Iowa (10-15, 2-10) and Nebraska (18-3, 10-2) provides the Spartans an opportunity to sweep the weekend in front of their home crowd.
The Spartans kick off their weekend on Friday against the Hawkeyes, who have dropped their last six matches, including three-set sweeps in their last four contests. Although the Hawkeyes have had struggles of late, the Spartans still are focusing on them just as they would focus on any other Big Ten opponent.
“In the Big Ten, you never know what’s going to happen,” sophomore libero Kori Moster said.
“Every team in the Big Ten is a very strong team, and (to prove that), Iowa has beaten Purdue (earlier in the year).”
Few teams in the nation are more of a threat than the No. 4 Cornhuskers who come into East Lansing on Saturday. Fresh off of beating then-No. 1 Penn State, Nebraska is one of the hottest teams in the nation, winning 10 of its last 11 matches.
“(After a loss to Ohio State), it was really important for them to regroup and get that win against Penn State,” head coach Cathy George said.
More than a month ago, the Spartans traveled to Lincoln, Neb., and were swept by Nebraska in three quick sets. Now that a month has gone by since their last match, the Spartans have grown to be a better team than what Nebraska witnessed early in the Big Ten schedule.
Not only will the growth of the team help MSU, but George enjoys another difference in this weekend’s match.
“We’re not in the (NU) Coliseum,” said George of Nebraska’s arena that seats more than 4,000.
Although George said that the NU Coliseum has been the toughest place to play this year, she also said that it was not the reason the team lost the match.
Being at home and carrying momentum from a strong past weekend, the Spartans will look to not only boost their record with a sweep, but also gain confidence.
“It’s important to try to get to 2-0 every weekend,” sophomore middle blocker Jazmine White said.
“Not only to get our record up, but just mentally it will help a lot, and give us that confidence we need for the tournament.”
MSU kicks its weekend off against Iowa at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and takes on Nebraska at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Jenison Field House.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
