Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Michigan
Spartans Fold To In-State Rival
11/24/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 24, 1999
The Michigan State Spartans lost their second consecutive match, 3-0, to Michigan in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Nov. 24. MSU fell to 19-12 overall, 9-10 in the Big Ten in the 7-15, 5-15, 1-15 loss, and is in danger of not advancing to the NCAA Tournament for a sixth-straight year.
The Spartans also lost the State Pride Flag, awarded to the winner of the season series between the two schools. MSU had a sizable lead going into the second match, having won the first match 3-0 earlier in the season. But UM reclaimed the flag by holding MSU to just 13 points in the match and winning on points, 65-58.
Michigan opened up game one with a 4-0 lead and didn?t relent, cruising to a 15-7 win. Sarah Gustin led Michigan State with six kills on .500 hitting but as a team MSU hit just .161 to the Wolverines? .325. The Spartans were very inaccurate at the service line with five service errors in the game.
The second game was even worse for MSU as UM opened another 4-0 lead. Michigan State got to within 3-4 but that was as close as the team would get. Up 7-5 the Wolverines ran off three points, and then after a sideout, came back to finish the game with another five consecutive points, winning 15-5. MSU was outhit .483-.111 and outdug, 12-6, but won the blocking battle, 2-0. Gustin continued her hot hitting for MSU with three kills and no errors for a .750 percentage and Maren Witzel and Erin Hartley each added two kills.
The Spartans fell completely apart in the third game, losing 1-15. MSU his just .029 to Michigan?s .433.
For the match, Gustin had 12 kills on .360 hitting but also had three of MSU?s six serving errors. Vicki Basil tallied 24 assists, two kills and four digs. Angela Morley led all blockers with four blocks as MSU outdid UM in only that category, 6-5.
The Wolverines hit a powerful .404 to MSU?s .098 for the match as three UM players tallied double-figure kills. Joanna Fielder had 16 on .519 hitting, Sarah Behnke 13 on .348 and Alija Pittenger 11 on .692.
MSU travels to Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 27 for its final match of the regular season. Michigan State is on the bubble as to whether it will receive an NCAA bid or not. The selection show is Sunday, Nov. 28 at 10 p.m.
