Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Minnesota
Minnesota Beats MSU Volleyball In Three
10/9/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 9, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball team was dealt a fourth-straight defeat at the hands of the University of Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 9 in Jenison Field House. The Golden Gophers blanked MSU, 3-0 (15-7, 15-8, 15-6) on the strength of junior outside hitter Nicole Branagh?s 13 kills and 10 digs.
?We really made it easy for Minnesota to be good tonight,? said Michigan State head coach Chuck Erbe. ?That?s something our team is going to have to deal with. Minnesota is strong and athletic and they hit the ball hard.?
Minnesota dominated at the net, outblocking MSU 8-5, and outhitting the Spartans .364-.153. A bright spot for Michigan State was the play of Sarah Gustin, who led the team with 11 kills and two block solos. Erin Hartley also played a solid match, contributing nine kills and seven digs.
Gopher setter Lindsey Berg distributed the ball well, tallying 39 assists to go with five digs and a match-high five service aces.
?It?s tough to play on the road in the Big Ten and we actually played pretty solid volleyball,? said Minnesota head coach Mike Hebert. ?We made a lot of good decisions.?
The Spartans are now 11-7 on the season and 1-5 in the Big Ten. Minnesota moves to 15-3 overall and 6-0 in the Big Ten, in a tie for first with Penn State.
MSU returns to action on Wed., Oct. 13 against Michigan at 7 p.m. in Jenison Field House. It will be Jam Jenison night as the teams meet for the first of two matches to decide who keeps the State Pride flag this year.
