Since MSU’s close, 4-3, loss to Iowa on April 13, they’ve played well against eventual co-Big Ten Champions No. 16 Nebraska, beat Ohio State, 5-2, on senior day, and narrowly lost to Penn State, 4-3, in the regular season finale.

“That (momentum) is a good thing for us,” Jardim said. “(It) definitely would have been nice to have better results earlier in Big Ten play for sure, but what other better time to peak than at the end of the season.”

She said while other teams might be tired and beat up from a long season, MSU’s squad is healthy and ready to go.

Junior Marina Bohrer spent every match this season at No. 1 singles, and finished the season 18-12.

She said the team needs to ride the wave of success they had during the past few matches into the Big Ten Championships.

“We’re expecting to compete as well (as we did) in the last two matches,” Bohrer said. “We got a win against Ohio State, so we’re hoping that the energy and the fight will be the same.”

The tournament begins at 10 a.m. today with four matches and concludes with the championship match at noon Sunday.

Senior Nicole Herzog jumped between Nos. 4, 5 and 6 singles in the regular season, but has been solid with her doubles partner, senior Michaela Silesova.

She said she has no expectations for the tournament, but anticipates MSU will put up the good fight she know’s they’re capable of.

“The results we’ve been having individually, we can bring them together as a team,” Herzog said. “Without having much expectations, that can be an advantage to us.”

No. 12 seed MSU will take on No. 5 seed Illinois at 10 a.m., with the winner taking on No. 4 Purdue at 10 a.m. Friday.

The Spartans lost, 6-1, to the Fighting Illini in Champaign, Ill., on April 7.

Jardim said MSU has an advantage as the underdog because Illinois will be preparing for Purdue without giving MSU much of a thought.

“Were going into this with nothing to lose and everything to gain,” she said. “We definitely know their players and know what we’ve gotta do to beat them.”