Chris Solari

Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING – It was a goal of Kori Moster to lead Michigan State into its fourth straight NCAA volleyball tournament.

Mission: Accomplished. The Spartans return to postseason play at 7:30 p.m. today when they face Loyola Marymount in the NCAA first round at Palo Alto, Calif.

It's one final chance at glory to end a long, strong four years for MSU's three-time captain. Yet Moster is trying to remain in the moment while one of her biggest dreams — a chance to become an Olympian — awaits on the other side of her college career.

"I've been really trying to compartmentalize it all," said 21-year-old Moster. "There are things that I have to prepare for as far as logistically. But right now, it's about being the best player and teammate for this time of year and for this team."

International exposure

MSU owns a rich history of volleyball success over the past 20-plus years. Yet one thing missing is an Olympic representative. The careers of the Spartans' best players, including former All-Americans Val Sterk and Jenna Wrobel, often have been misaligned with when the Olympics roster selection competitions have been held.

Moster's, however, will conclude just in time for the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro.

"That's great for Kori, and we're excited for her and her future in volleyball," MSU coach Cathy George said. "We've had four players on the National Team so far at Michigan State. Obviously, that's a huge goal for the program. But really, mostly for our players, because we want to see our kids that we know get to achieve their dreams."

Last February, Moster tried out for and made the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team, which in June toured China as part of the Beijing Super Women's Volleyball Challenge. It was her first international experience.

"It was above and beyond anything I'd experienced. It's the best players," Moster said. "It prepared me for all the different changes, because international play differs from U.S. play."

That's no small feat for a player at Moster's libero position — typically, there are few spots reserved for defensive-minded players in fast-paced, above-the-net international competition. She was the only libero on that collegiate squad. Her team went 5-2, winning three of four from the Chinese National Team and dropping its only other match to a professional squad.

More importantly for Moster, the tour was considered a second tryout phase for the Women's National Team. In January, she will travel to Anaheim, Calif., to participate in an important two-week training phase with the U.S. program under the direction of coach and men's Olympic legend Karch Kiraly. The best from there will be invited back to spend the summer with the U.S. National Program.

The Olympic roster for 2016 will consist of the best 12-15 players from that National Team player pool that Moster hopes to play her way into.

"That would be my entire summer out there. They train and send different rosters to different tournaments, preparing for the Olympics in 2016," she said. "(Kiraly) made it very obvious to me that, because how far along they are in the process, they might take no one. But then again, if it's someone he feels can impact the program from the beginning, then he'd be more than willing to take them. It really does just depend."

Focus on now

Like all seniors, it's a critical time for Moster. But she also has a few other things going on that most don't – including guiding the Spartans' quest in the NCAAs.

"Right now is a great thing for her. Right now prepares her for that," George said of Moster's next phase. "The further we go in the tournament, the more different teams and styles we play against, it helps prepare her. Keeping her mind right where it needs to be, which is here, is going to help her. It keeps our practices going, which gets her ready for January."

Entering this season, Moster already owned the MSU career record for digs. With 511 so far this fall, pushing her career total to 2,179, she has moved into fifth place in Big Ten history. Two strong tournament games could bump her as high as second on the conference list.

Moster is one of 10 finalists for the women's volleyball Senior CLASS Award. She and Florida State's Katie Mosher are the only two liberos on the list. The winner will be announced later this month during the Division I volleyball championship in Oklahoma City.

"You never obviously replace a player like Kori, who's been a mainstay in our lineup for four years," George said. "She's pretty much solidified our defense and our passing group, and she's become quite a server, too, in the last couple years. She can take over matches at times."

In May, she will graduate from MSU with a degree in advertising and hopes to go into public relations or marketing.

First, though, she might have more volleyball. Playing professionally on the international circuit – like former MSU teammates Lauren Wicinski (Puerto Rico) and Alexis Mathews (Romania) – will be difficult as a libero. Most of those spots on pro teams go to domestic players, with taller hitters and blockers who command higher salaries taking up their roster slots for Americans and foreign-born players.

That means chasing the Olympic dream could be her ticket to additional post-collegiate competition. She'll find out more in January. But first, there comes one final December march with the Spartans.

"When that's completed, hopefully in a few weeks, then I can switch my gears and help the transition into the international game a little bit," Moster said. "But right now, I really am just focused on the collegiate level."

KORI MOSTER FILE

• Who: MSU senior libero

• Height: 5-4

• Hometown/school: Cincinnati/Ursuline Academy

• Honors: Two-time All-American (honorable mention 2012, third team 2013), two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2013), All-Big Ten honorable mention (2013, 2014), Senior CLASS Award finalist.

NCAA TOURNAMENT

MSU vs. Loyola Marymount

• When: 7:30 p.m. today

• Where: Maples Pavillion, Palo Alto, Calif.

• Online: Streaming at Pac-12.com

• Next: The MSU-Loyola Marymound winner will face the winner of the match between host and No. 1 Stanford and Cal-State Bakersfield at 10 p.m. Saturday.