Spartan Volleyball Releases 2007 Schedule

MSU set to face nine teams which competed in the NCAA Tournament last season. Â ÂEAST LANSING, Mich. - Matches against nine teams that competed in the 2006 NCAA

MSU set to face nine teams which competed in the NCAA Tournament last season.
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Matches against nine teams that competed in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, including six that were ranked in the final poll by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), highlight the 2007 Michigan State volleyball schedule.
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From the final AVCA poll, the Spartans are scheduled to face 2006 Big Ten Champion No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Minnesota, No. 8 Southern California, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 16 Ohio State, No. 18 Purdue and St. John’s, which received votes in the final poll. State will face non-conference opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12, Big East, Ivy League, Mid-American (MAC), Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Missouri Valley, Southern Conference, Pacific Ten and the West Coast Conference.
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"Our 2007 season schedule is the most challenging that this coaching staff has had since its arrival," Spartan volleyball head coach Cathy George said. "Playing the top teams from several conferences will give us a taste of the competition levels throughout the country. We believe it is important that the strength of schedule prepares us for the rigors of the Big Ten portion of the season and this year will be no exception."
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State opens the season on the West coast at the USC (Southern California) Trojan Invitational, Aug. 24-25, in Los Angeles, Calif. MSU will face Loyola Marymount, St. John’s and host USC at the event. The Green and White return home to host Kansas, Missouri State and Florida State, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, in the 12th Spartan Invitational. State concludes the tournament portion of its season at the Harvard Invitational, Sept. 7-8, in Cambridge, Mass. Boston College, Delaware State, Harvard and Wofford College will join MSU at the event. Michigan State will face two MAC opponents, Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti and Central Michigan in East Lansing, to conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule, Sept. 11 and 15, respectively.
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The Spartans will open the Big Ten Conference portion of its schedule at defending Big Ten champion Penn State on Sept. 21 and Ohio State on Sept. 22. State will return home to host Illinois in its first home league match on Friday, Sept. 28, and will follow with two consecutive home contests against Wisconsin (Sept. 29) and Northwestern (Oct. 3). MSU hits the road for three straight conferences matches the following week. First, State will travel to Michigan for the first meeting of the State Pride Flag series on Oct. 5, and will follow with back-to-back road contests against Indiana (Oct. 12) and Purdue (Oct. 13). The Green and White conclude the first half of the conference campaign at home against Iowa (Oct. 19) and Minnesota (Oct. 20), before kicking off the second half of the season at Northwestern on Oct. 24. State hosts Michigan on Oct. 27, and travels to Wisconsin (Nov. 2) and Illinois (Nov. 3) to begin the month of November. The Spartans will play four of their final six games on their home court in Jenison Field House, beginning with contests against Ohio State (Nov. 9) and Penn State (Nov. 10). MSU will travel to Minnesota (Nov. 16) and Iowa (Nov. 17), before concluding the regular season at home against Purdue (Nov. 23) and Indiana (Nov. 24). Fans should note that unlike years past, all of MSU’s home matches are tentatively slated to begin at 6:30 p.m.
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Michigan State returns nine letterwinners and five starters from its 2006 squad that went 19-12, including a 10-10 mark (6th) in the Big Ten. The Green and White advanced to the NCAA Tournament in ’06, its first postseason appearance since the 2003 campaign. Senior Ashley Schatzle, a first team All-Big Ten performer from a year ago, and senior Katie Johnson, an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2006, will anchor the outside hitting position for the Spartans this fall. Sophomore middle blocker Vanessa King, an All-Big Ten Freshman Team member, joins senior Jessica Hohl, and sophomores Mischelle Nelson and Whitney Tremain at the net this season, while four-year starter Miken Trogdon returns in the defensive specialist position. Along with the strong core of veteran players, five newcomers will don the Green and White for the 2007 campaign.