After a 3-1 victory over No. 17 Kentucky at their home court in Lexington last Sunday, the Spartans’ next opponent will be No. 2 Penn State this Friday at 5 p.m.

Although the Nittany Lions are 1-1 this season against MSU, Penn State is now on a 21-game winning streak since their loss to MSU in September.

“We’re very familiar with them. They’re a great team, they have great momentum going into this tournament and some unbelievably physical players,” head coach Cathy George said.

Penn State has only dropped four sets since mid-October and has swept its first two opponents of the tournament, LIU Brooklyn and Utah.

“Penn State has really been playing well in the second half of the Big Ten (season) and leading into the NCAA Tournament,” George said.

“It’s very obvious that they’re shooting for a National Championship.”

The Spartans struggled late in the season, finishing 6-3 since their last loss to Penn State, while the Nittany Lions have been unstoppable except by the Spartans early in the season.

“We will be well prepared and we’ll represent well,” George said.

If the Spartans win, they will move onto the NCAA Tournament Semifinals on Dec. 19.
The match will be broadcast at 5 p.m. Friday on ESPN 3.

Jennifer Swanchara is the host of Bump, Set, Spike for Impact Sports.

Photo: Michigan State University Athletics