EAST LANSING — As homecoming weekend comes to a close, the Michigan State Spartans look to add to the celebration as the Washington Huskies visit for the first time ever.
Since it is Washington’s first season in the Big Ten, the Huskies have faced the Spartans only twice. Washington has won both matchups, with the most recent occurring in 2015 in the second round of the NCAA tournament, winning 3-1.
Struggling in conference play, the Spartans have dropped to 7-11 and sit at 0-7 in the Big Ten, currently in the midst of an eight-match losing streak. They have faced a tough schedule, with four of their seven conference games against top-10 opponents.
At 13-4, the Huskies have hit a rough patch, suffering three consecutive losses and falling to 3-4 in the Big Ten. They are coming off a three-set loss at Michigan as they attempt to finish their weekend in the state 1-1.
Another big game from sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig could propel the Spartans to victory.
Kulig continues to be one of the best blockers in the nation, with 90 blocks, 15 solo blocks and 75 block assists, all ranking her top three in the Big Ten.
She has also sneaked into eighth in the national rankings for blocks per set, averaging 1.50.
Kulig will be staring across the net at another top blocker in purple, freshman middle blocker Julia Hunt, a high school All-American and the 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky.
Hunt may be a freshman, but she has wasted no time making an impact at the college level. With 76 blocks and 71 block assists, she ranks top 10 in the Big Ten for both categories.
What sets Hunt apart is her efficiency. She is one of the most efficient players in the Big Ten, ranking fifth in the conference with a hitting percentage of .403 and first among freshmen.
The Spartans and Huskies will be looking to get back on track, as one of these teams will end its losing streak in the first-ever Big Ten matchup between the two.
The match will be at the Breslin Center on Sunday at 1 p.m. for Michigan State’s Breast Cancer Awareness Match, hoping to secure its first conference win of the season before traveling to California to take on USC and UCLA.
