Head coach Cathy George is dangerously close to having the program where she wants it to be. With a hot start that included wins over reigning national runner-up Oregon and perennial powerhouse Penn State, the volleyball team has been nothing short of stellar this fall. Here is what the team has accomplished on the hardwood:
Team MVP: Senior outside hitter Lauren Wicinski
Ask head coach Cathy George about Wicinski, and George will tell you that she’s been on a tear since her stellar freshman season at Northern Illinois.
By the end of the season, Wicinski likely will be one of the top-25 all-time kill getters in NCAA history. She’s been an offensive force for a Spartan team that has been on a tear of its own this season. When it’s all said and done, she could be remembered as one of the best outside hitters in NCAA history.
Breakout freshman: Freshman outside hitter Chloe Reinig
Despite missing the first three weeks of the season, it didn’t take long for Reinig to prove why she was the No. 4 recruit of the 2013 senior class. She has established herself as potentially the second best outside hitter on the roster. It’ll be interesting to see how she improves her game year-after-year.
Surprise performer: Chloe Reinig
It’s a tall task for a freshman to step in and provide consistent effort on offense, but that’s what Reinig has accomplished in her first year. Her 2.97 kills per set is the second highest mark on the team, and her .292 kill percentage is the highest amongst outside hitters on the team.
Game of the year so far: 3-2 win vs. Penn State
Beating then-No. 1 Penn State on the road is no easy feat, but the Spartans did just that in their first Big Ten win of the season. It was a thriller, as MSU won the first two matches before dropping sets three and four. However, it was pure will power and mental toughness that carried them to a victory. They would go on to win their next five Big Ten games, the team’s best conference start in over a decade.
Odds to win Big Ten:
The Spartans were undefeated in Big Ten play before dropping two games last weekend. However, both games were unusually error-filled, and it’s safe to assume that MSU will find their footing. A Big Ten Championship is a strong possibility this season.
Odds for postseason:
Junior libero Kori Moster declared at the beginning of the season that a Final Four was the goal this year. Losing two straight games cooled off their hot start, but the team remains the best of Cathy George’s career as MSU’s head coach. A Final Four berth remains the goal, and the team could possibly go further.
Biggest games coming up: Oct. 23, Michigan, Nov. 1, Ohio State, Nov. 2, Penn State
By toppling a rival and continuing their success over OSU and PSU, the Spartans will likely play themselves back into Big Ten title contention.
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