Penn State vs. Michigan State 12-9-17 8:00 pm

The team that traveled the first week of the season, when they beat Wisconsin and Minnesota 3-0 on the road is probably the best play that any of the teams in the conference have put together. The match [in Rec Hall] was a very tough match, and we benefitted by being the home team in the same way I would expect them to benefit being the home team [on Wednesday night]. They have six seniors on the floor. They’re leading the conference in service aces. They have the #1 and #2 players in the conference in service aces. If we can do well in the serve-pass game, then we’ll have a chance, and if they run points against us like they did other teams, then it’s tough to come back.

[Michigan State] is one of the surprise teams nationally. We’re tied with them. To this point they’ve beaten the #1 team at Minnesota and Wisconsin twice, who was ranked in the top-5 in the country. They start six seniors. Certainly, I would say they’re the most physical team in the conference. They’ve got a great setter. They’re a top-10 team for a reason.

I thought it was a representative match of two of the top teams in the conference battling it out. We knew that Michigan State was very good based on the results they’ve had to date, and they certainly didn’t disappoint with how they played and competed. I think they’re terrific. I’m really pleased that we battled back after a pretty meek second game performance. I thought Heidi Thelen played really well in that third game [6 kills on 13 attempts in the third game, with 1 attack error] and Simone Lee really turned it on in the fourth game [6 kills on 9 errorless swings], and Haleigh Washington was her typical efficient self [14 kills for the match, on 30 attempts with 1 attack error — .433 hitting %]. for the article.