Following the upset, the Spartans are now at the halfway point of the season. They’re making their rounds, and playing Ohio State for the second time this season. Their toughest opponents will come toward the end of season, as they play Minnesota and Wisconsin on back to back days in November.

“This part of the season really is a grind, because you’re starting to get into the ritual of everything and practice every day and it starts to get really repetitive," junior setter Rachel Minarick said. "We’re playing teams for the second time so we know that we have to keep getting better and better. Just knowing we have to come in with the same mindset, even stronger of a mindset going into a second round game with a team.” 

MSU has already played Rutgers this season and swept the Scarlet Knights in three sets. MSU has won all six meets against the Rutgers all-time. When MSU played Rutgers on Oct. 1, six Spartans had at least seven kills and held Rutgers to a .067 hitting percentage, which is the lowest of any team MSU has played this season. Currently, the Scarlet Knights are winless in conference play and their overall record is 4-17.

 “In the Big Ten you can’t really take a game off, so we did well against them when we played them at their place,” Minarick said. “They’re going to be a different team, they’re going to have a little bit of things they’ve improved on. So, we just have to make sure that we improve on some things, too … just handling those things better when we play them.”

The real battle happens on the road for the Spartans, as they look to defeat Ohio State for the second time this season. MSU has struggled on the road with losses to No. 22 Illinois and No. 9 Penn State. Team captain Minarick said they don’t play their best volleyball away, and that’s where they need to step it up.

“Ohio State is a little bit crazy,” senior outside hitter Chloe Reinig said. “They’re probably going to be a little bit salty, a little bit angry that we beat them pretty bad. … On their home court, I’m guessing they’ll come out firey just trying to kick our butts, but we just need to come out ready to dominate.”

In the last match against the Buckeyes, MSU had an intensity and swagger that allowed them to take over the game after struggling for the first few points. Redshirt-junior outside hitter Autumn Bailey lead with kills that night with 14 and 8 digs. Senior middle blocker Allyssah Fitterer followed up that performance with 8 kills, with a .533 hitting percentage and two blocks. The Spartans will have to make sure they can keep Buckeyes player Taylor Sandbothe under control, as she had 12 kills during their last meet.

 “We call them the Red Bull team because they just do everything that you wouldn’t expect,” Reinig said. 

Game time against Rutgers is set for 6 p.m., and the Spartans will be playing in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.