The chips were stacked against the Spartans on Saturday, as they squared off against the defending national champion UCLA at their home court.
It wasn’t easy, but the MSU volleyball team now is heading to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year after beating San Diego in five hard fought sets (25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 18-25, 15-11).
It has been more than three months since MSU volleyball’s season started, and they now are hours away from starting the most crucial portion of the year: the NCAA Tournament.
In front of nearly 4,000 fans in Austin, Texas, a year ago, the MSU volleyball team saw its season come to an end in the NCAA Tournament against No. 1-seeded Texas. Not only did the loss knock the Spartans out of the Big Dance, but it closed the book on head coach Cathy George’s winningest team since she came to MSU in 2005.
When the MSU volleyball team found out they were slated to play San Diego in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans didn’t know very much about their next opponent.
After riding a six-game winning streak late into November, the Spartans ended the regular season in the most unfortunate fashion possible — getting swept in their final two matches. The two sweeps weren’t against just any teams, either. They were against in-state rival Michigan and No. 1 Penn State.
Anxiety, nerves and a faint silence encompassed the room filled with members of the MSU volleyball team as they awaited the start of the NCAA volleyball selection show on Sunday.
After riding a six game winning streak into last Wednesday, the Spartans now have been swept in their last two games, with their most recent loss to No. 1 Penn State.
Earlier this season, the Spartans swept Michigan in Ann Arbor in convincing fashion. On Wednesday night, however, the tables were turned, as the Wolverines (22-11 overall, 10-9 Big Ten) swept the Spartans (23-8, 11-8) on Senior Night, in front of a record breaking crowd at Jenison Field House of 5,059.
The season for MSU volleyball hasn’t ended quite yet, but for the three seniors, Wednesday night will be the end of an era.
For the last three weeks, the MSU volleyball team has destroyed everything in their path, with the exception of one — the AVCA Coaches Poll.
The MSU volleyball team (23-7 overall, 11-7 Big Ten) traveled to Evanston, Ill., and swept the Northwestern Wildcats (16-13, 5-13) 3-0, with scores of 25-18, 25-17 and 25-15 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The win caps another strong weekend for the Spartans, who defeated Illinois in five sets on Friday evening.
The MSU volleyball team faced a major scare Friday evening, but the Spartans rallied to beat Illinois as four players had double digit kills.
For the MSU volleyball team, this weekend holds one focus — to get revenge against Northwestern and Illinois.
Walking into practice on Wednesday, MSU volleyball head coach Cathy George was wearing an ear-to-ear smile on her face. And with the morning George had on the first day of the NCAA early signing period, who can blame her for being so enthusiastic?
With the recent success of the MSU volleyball team, it’s hard not to think about how clear the postseason picture is becoming. The Spartans (21-7 overall, 9-7 Big Ten) are fresh off of beating then-No. 4 Nebraska and No. 10 Minnesota in back-to-back weekends, giving head coach Cathy George confidence in the team’s postseason plans.
History was made on the hardwood on Friday, as the MSU volleyball team beat No. 10 Minnesota to earn back-to-back wins over top 10 teams since 1995.
The MSU Volleyball team continues to ride their wave of momentum, sweeping Wisconsin 3-0 and extending its winning streak to four at Jenison Field House Saturday night.
The MSU volleyball team came into Friday’s match against No. 10 Minnesota riding on a wave of momentum after defeating No. 4 Nebraska last weekend. That wave only has picked up speed, as the Spartans (20-7 overall, 8-7 Big Ten) downed the Golden Gophers (20-6, 11-4) in four sets (25-20, 17-25, 25-21, 25-20).
Last weekend, the MSU volleyball team shocked the crowd at Jenison Field House when it toppled No. 4 Nebraska in a five-set thriller. This weekend, the Spartans (19-7 overall, 7-7 Big Ten) look to repeat that episode, as they have the chance to knock off No. 10 Minnesota (20-5, 11-3) to start their Big Ten doubleheader.