No. 14 MSU (4-0) takes on No. 19 Duke (4-0) and No. 20 North Carolina (2-1) this weekend in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge at Jenison Field House.
As part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, both Duke and UNC will play road games against MSU and Michigan.
All three teams made the NCAA Tournament last year and return a combined 38 letterwinners.
A lot of talent will be on display, and here are a few players on each team to watch on Friday and Saturday.
MSU
Sophomore middle blocker/opposite hitter Allyssah Fitterer
Fitterer won the MVP award at last week’s UAB/Samford Invitational. She was also named to the NCAA Lexington regional all-tournament team in 2013. Fitterer is averaging a team high 3.54 kills per set.
Senior libero Kori Moster
Moster is a two-time all-American player and the reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year. The team co-captain was also selected to play with the USA Volleyball College National Team over the summer. Defensively, Moster leads the Spartans with 51 digs.
Sophomore outside hitter Chloe Reinig
Reinig was named to the Big Ten all-freshman team last year. Averaging 2.83 kills per set, the sophomore was named to the UAB/Samford All-Tournament team last week.
UNC
Junior setter Jordyn Schnabl
Schnabl played in every set and every match for UNC last year. Schnabl paired with Abigail Curry combine to form a ferocious one-two punch at the setter position. She leads the Tar Heels with 51 assists.
Junior middle blocker Paige Neuenfeldt
Neuenfeldt earned AVCA honorable mention all-America honors last year after playing in every match for the Tar Heels at middle blocker.
The Michigan native is a former ACC freshman of the year and is averaging 1.25 kills per set.
Sophomore setter Abigail Curry
Curry was named to the ACC all-freshman team last year and played in 32 of 33 matches. Curry’s 38 assists are good for second on the team.
Duke
Senior setter Maggie Deichmeister
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Deichmeister was an AVCA all-America honorable mention last season. The senior setter directed an offense in 2013, which led the ACC in kills per set (14.87) and assists per set (13.83).
Junior outside hitter Emily Sklar
Last season, Sklar became the first sophomore in Duke history to win the ACC Player of the Year award. She averaged 3.89 kills per set and totaled 405 kills. In the Blue Devils last game, the junior had a career-best 22 kills against Campbell.
Sophomore middle blocker Jordan Tucker
Tucker was named to the ACC all-freshman team last season. The sophomore started in 32 of 33 matches last season, compiling a .308 hitting percentage. Tucker, like Emily Sklar, is coming off a double-double against Campbell.
