It will be déjà vu for the Spartans on Friday night.
MSU (8-6 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) will face off against Michigan (6-7 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) at Jenison Field House for the second time this week.
The Spartans lost a competitive contest to the Wolverines on Tuesday night in Ann Arbor, 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 24-26, 23-25).
“There were moments where we played well,” head coach Cathy George said. “We need to be a little bit more consistent.”
Despite the loss, MSU still leads the all-time series 50-39-1.
Both teams were not crisp offensively or defensively in the first meeting, combining for 55 errors. The Spartans were responsible for 29 of those errors.
“I think both sides didn’t have great volleyball,” sophomore outside hitter Chloe Reinig said.
MSU will have to correct some of the mistakes in crucial situations, which cost them in Ann Arbor.
“I want to make sure we handle the ball better,” George said, as working together as a unit was something emphasized in practice ahead of Friday’s game.
U-M is led by senior setter Lexi Dannemiller and middle blocker Abby Cole.
Dannemiller did a good job of setting up her teammates on Tuesday night against the Spartans, recording a double-double with 41 assists and 17 digs.
Cole was on the receiving end of most of those assists, totaling 12 kills and four blocks.
The Spartans will lean on Reinig, who led the team with 23 kills on Tuesday, one shy of her career-high.
“I’m just going to continue the intensity I had on Tuesday and bring it into tomorrow,” Reinig said.
MSU hopes a raucous home crowd, like the “Jammed Jenison” against U-M last year, will give them a boost against the Wolverines once more.
“I’m excited to pack this place,” senior outside hitter Taylor Galloway said. “Everybody I’ve talked to said yeah, I’m coming.”
Last year, a record 6,183 fans packed Jenison Field House for the meeting of these two teams, which according to the athletic office is believed to be the venue’s largest attendance for an MSU athletic event other than men’s basketball.
First serve is set for 7 p.m.
