Volleyball Honors Seniors, Former Spartan Erin Hartley This Weekend
11/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State volleyball (18-8, 10-6) concludes its Big Ten Conference home season Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-22 with No. 22 Minnesota Friday and Iowa Saturday. Both matches begin at 8 p.m., and fans wearing green will receive free admission to both matches.
Friday, the Spartans will honor Erin Hartley, who was named AVCA Second-Team All-America in 2001, in a pre-game ceremony before facing Minnesota (19-9, 12-4). Saturday, State will honor its four seniors - Nikki Colson, Stephanie Knopp, Emmy Miller and Jenny Rood - prior to its match against Iowa (6-20, 1-15).
 Erin Hartley, a second-team All-America honoree in 2001, will be honored prior to Friday's match against Minnesota.  | |
As they enter the second-to-last weekend of conference play, the Spartans are tied for fourth place in the Big Ten league standings. MSU is 4-1 in its last five matches, with four road wins - at Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State - and one at home against Purdue. The loss in that span came at No. 16 Penn State. In those five matches, State has bested its opponent in every category except service aces.
As of Nov. 19, Minnesota is tied with Illinois for second place in the Big Ten, at 19-9 overall and 12-4 in league play. Cassie Busse leads the Golden Gophers at 4.73 kills per game and a .311 attack percentage. Teammates Trisha Bratford and Erin Martin each average better than 3.55 kills per game as well. Setter Lindsey Taatjes has 1,217 assists and 268 digs on the year, while libero Paula Gentil has 478 digs this season (4.93 pg).
Michigan State fell to Minnesota in Minneapolis on Oct. 25, 3-1. Kim Schram led MSU with 20 kills, while Cassie Busse and Erin Martin had 30 and 23 kills, respectively, for Minnesota. The Golden Gophers out-hit State, .364-.195 in the match.
Iowa plays at Michigan Friday before facing MSU Saturday at 8 p.m. The Hawkeyes picked up their first win in the Big Ten and first since Sept. 13 on Nov. 15, with a 3-2 win against Purdue in Iowa City. Iowa is 6-20 on the season and 1-15 in the Big Ten. Carolyn Giese has 276 kills on the season to go along with 69 blocks. Setter Jitka Stehnova has 889 assists this season, an average of 9.66 per game on the year. Eighteen Hawkeyes have played in different matches this season.
Earlier this season, MSU defeated Iowa 3-1 in Iowa City on Oct. 24. State hit .338 to Iowa's .124. Kim Schram had 23 kills on .353 hitting, while Sara Villwock contributed 16 kills for MSU. Setter Nikki Colson added 57 assists. Laura Simpson had 20 kills for Iowa, while Carolyn Giese added 12 and Tiana Cosstanzo contributed 10.