Michigan is struggling, but that doesn't mean Russ Rose is going to take them lightly.
The coach of the No. 1 Penn State women's volleyball team knows better than to take anything for granted in a conference he feels is one of the toughest in the country.
"We've lost at Michigan before," Rose said. "Just because we haven't lost to them in the last couple of years, maybe I'm the only one with experience losing there. I respect the opponent because the matches are challenging, even if my players are oblivious to that."
The Lions (18-0, 6-0 Big Ten), however, know the tough competition that awaits them Friday night. Ranked No. 11 in the country, Michigan (16-3, 4-2) has an impressive resume that has the team battle-tested and capable of taking down the top competition of the country.
After opening the season with an impressive sweep of then-No. 3 Nebraska in Omaha and starting the season 15-1, Michigan has lost two of its last three matches. Wolverines' coach Mark Rosen chalked up the recent struggles to sloppy play.
"We didn't play real clean, so right now we're just focusing on playing better volleyball," Rosen said. "Where that takes us against Penn State, we'll find out, but my goal this weekend is to try and just put some better volleyball on the floor."
Coming off a loss to Wisconsin and a five-set victory over Iowa, both on the road, Michigan will have the benefit of a home crowd this weekend.
Friday night's match at Cliff Keen Arena sold out Wednesday evening and coach Rosen said the atmosphere in the arena should be electric. Keen Arena holds just 1,800 people, but with the gym's low ceiling and the intimate atmosphere, it feels as if the crowd is right on top of the court, Rosen said.
Still, the coach said the Wolverines cannot depend on the crowd to have an affect on Penn State.
"I don't think it actually helps us intimidate the opponent," Rosen said. "If your playing a good team, they're gonna be motivated by the external atmosphere. They're not gonna be frightened by it, nobody in the Big Ten gets afraid of a crowd."
Penn State last lost at Michigan Nov. 2, 2002. For the Wolverines to repeat the success they had seven years ago, Rosen said the team has to play a perfect match.
Despite the Lions success in Ann Arbor and Michigan's recent struggles, Rosen believes there is a chance his team can find a way to take down Penn State.
"Every team is beatable," Rosen said. "[Penn State] is certainly less beatable than most, than maybe anybody, but still, anybody has the opportunity to lose."
