GREEN & WHITE

MSU volleyball team excited, relieved to host NCAA tournament games

Omari Sankofa II
For the Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING – When Michigan State's volleyball team saw its name on the screen during the NCAA tournament selection show, the Engagement Center of the North End Zone Complex of Spartan Stadium filled with cheers and applause.

MSU is the No. 9 overall seed, which means playing at home at Jenison Field House for the first weekend, this weekend. The Spartans play Fairfield in the first round at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Arizona and Cleveland State meet at 5 p.m  Friday. The two winners play at 7 p.m. Saturday.

It's the first time the Spartans will host NCAA Tournament games since 2003 and the first time under head coach Cathy George.

Players knew hosting the opening weekend was a possibility after finishing Big Ten play with a 13-7 record. Now, it's a reality.

"Going into tonight, I think that's why a lot of us were nervous and excited at the same time," senior middle blocker Allyssah Fitterer said Sunday night after the show. "Seeing our name up there, No. 9 seed, you could see the room had exploded with excitement, and we were so proud to be a Spartan in that moment."

It's MSU's sixth-straight tournament appearance and 19th as a program. The Spartans have won five-straight first round games.

George said, based on MSU's body of work this season, she believes that her team has earned its seeding — as one of 16 seeded host teams in the 64-team field. With 13 conference wins, the Spartans had their highest number of Big Ten victories in a season under George.

Division I Women's Volleyball Bracket | NCAA.com

Normally a tough conference, the Big Ten was especially brutal this year. Eight teams in the conference were seeded, three of which (No. 1 Nebraska, No. 2 Minnesota, No. 3 Wisconsin) earned top 3 seeds.

"We've just grown. We've matured. We have a lot of talent and depth," George said of her team. "It's been great for us as we watch this team come together and take on the adversities of the Big Ten. It's not an easy conference as we all know."

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday. All-session general admission tickets, which will admit fans to all three games, cost $14, or $8 for children, seniors and MSU students.