The Marquette women's volleyball team is getting ready to wrap up its spring season — if it can be called an actual season.

The campaign began on March 28 and will wrap up Thursday night when Marquette faces cross-town rival Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The Golden Eagles have played in two tournaments this spring compiling a 5-6 record, including a victory against UW-Milwaukee last weekend in the Great Lakes Center Collegiate Tournament.

"I think now we're not so much focusing on our record, but rather how we're playing," junior Hailey Viola said. "I think the main thing right now is just really finding a way to be consistent."

New head coach Bond Shymansky said he is focused on installing a quicker offensive system and work ethic into his team during the spring season.

"Some of that will be yielded in victories when you're competing in the spring," he said. "With the spring season, you don't always have all of your starters, you don't always have everybody healthy and you don't always have people playing in the right positions."

Marquette has clearly been dealing with some of those issues. Defensive specialist Viola has played outside hitter and led the team in attempts this past weekend.

"I'm getting used to it more, everyone's been helping me out a lot," Viola said. "(Assistant coach) Michaela (Franklin) has been kind of taking me under her wing and helping me adjust to the transition."

Viola has been forced to fill in for junior Leslie Bielski, who is academically ineligible for the spring season.

One piece that is in place for Marquette is the setter position, where transfer Nikki Klingsporn has been adjusting well as the offensive leader for the Golden Eagles.

"I think she's really grasping the offensive concepts really well," Shymansky said. "Again, as we get more hitters in the door, then she'll have the opportunity to set with a little more variety."

Klingsporn has had an easy time adjusting to her new teammates and has enjoyed playing in Shymansky's up-tempo style.

"It's a lot faster," Klingsporn said. "It's a very creative offense and we can do a lot of different things."

Another newcomer to the lineup this spring has been freshman Holly Mertens, who is seeing time at right side hitter.

"Holly's been great, and she's also been playing back row," Viola said. "She has a great arm swing, so she's able to swing before the blockers get a chance to set up."

If Mertens is able to hold down that position, it would give Marquette an experienced pair of middle hitters in sophomore Becka Gonyo and freshman Tiara Russell. Both spent much of the fall season at middle hitter.

Whether Marquette finishes its spring season with a win Thursday or not, the team is starting to get a feel for what the fall season could bring.

"Everything that we're learning is so new, and I think having to come in in the spring has helped a lot," Klingsporn said.