Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Penn State
Volleyball Gets Bitten By No. 1 Nittany Lions In Three
11/13/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 13, 1999
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State proved it was the No. 1 team in the country yet again on Saturday, Nov. 13 in State College, Pa., defeating Michigan State 3-0 (15-7, 15-10, 15-3). The Nittany Lions extended their NCAA record for consecutive home wins to 74 while MSU dropped its second match in as many nights. The Spartans took a big blow in the third game as junior middle Jessica Sanborn went down with an injury to her right ankle.
PSU?s Lauren Cacciamani led all hitters with 19 kills on .576 hitting and teammate Katie Schumacher added 16 kills and four blocks. Jessica Sanborn hit nine kills for MSU and added six digs and five blocks. Angela Morley had another solid match with five kills and two blocks. Vicki Basil tallied her seventh double-double of the season with 36 kills and 12 digs.
Michigan State kept it close in game one, but up 6-5, Penn State scored five points in a row and, capitalizing on MSU hitting errors, closed out the game 15-7. The Nittany Lions outhit MSU .224-.061 and outblocked the Spartans 6-3. Sarah Gustin led the Spartans with six kills, while Maren Witzel tallied four. Both Jessica Sanborn and Erin Hartley had three block assists in the game.
Penn State jumped out to a commanding 10-3 lead in the second game. After a timeout, the Spartans found their rhythm, however, and clawed back into the game. Down just three at 9-12, the teams traded six sideouts and an errant MSU serve gave the Lions a chance to score two points. At game point, 14-9, MSU scored one last point before PSU closed out the game, 15-10. Gustin tallied seven more kills and Sanborn had five kills and two more blocks. The Spartans offense fired better but was still outhit, .354-.157. PSU?s Lauren Cacciamani notched eight kills in the game.
The Lions jumped all over MSU in the third game and cruised to an easy 15-3 win. PSU hit .400 and held MSU to .000.
Michigan State is now 18-10 on the season, 8-8 in Big Ten play. It returns to East Lansing for its final home matches of the 1999 season on Nov. 19 vs. Indiana and Nov. 20 vs. Illinois. Note: the Illinois match has been moved back to 8 p.m. because of the Penn State football game.
