Michigan State University
Penn State
Penn State Overpowers Spartan Volleyball In Big Ten Play
10/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 15, 2005
STATE COLLEGE, Penn. - The Michigan State volleyball team concluded weekend action tonight facing nationally ranked Penn State in Big Ten action. The Nittany Lion offense out-hit State .380 to .047 to capture the 3-0 conference sweep (30-19, 30-17, 30-21). With the loss, State falls to 9-9 overall, 2-6 in Big Ten action, while #4 Penn State improves to 17-2 with an 8-0 Big Ten slate. MSU's Mickey Davis posted 30 assists for the match, while senior captain Megan Wallin paced the Spartan offense with 11 kills in the loss.
The two teams matched points in the early minutes of the opening set, however a 7-3 run by the Nittany Lions gave them the 21-11 upperhand. The lead extended to 24-14, Spartan head coach Cathy George took her second timeout of game one hoping to halt the Penn State scoring rally. The State offense managed to post just five points after the timeout as Penn State took the 30-19 game victory. Defensively, both squads posted 2.0 total blocks, while MSU held the slight 17 digs to 16 advantage. Davis posted 12 assists in the set, while Wallin added five kills to lead the Spartans.
A Brooke Langston kill neared the Penn State lead at 8-5 early in the second game before a 7-3 run by the Nittany Lions bettered the lead at 16-8. MSU rallied behind a Wallin kill, and ace at the service stripe by Marley Bellwood, to near the score at 25-14. Out-hitting the Spartan offense .457 to .077, the home team gained the 2-0 match advantage with a 30-17 second game win. Colaluca added five digs in the set, a total of nine through the first two games of the night, while Schatzle, Langston, Davis, and Wallin added one block assist each in the second set loss. Through two games, Penn State held the 36 to 26 dig advantage, while the home team also held the slight 5.5 total blocks to 4.0 total blocks upperhand.
Looking for a much needed win after the lengthy intermission, MSU sophomore Jessica Hohl added her fourth kill of the match nearing the early Nittany Lion lead at 7-4. State managed to near the lead at 8-6 behind a Langston kill, however an error at the service stripe edged the momentum back to Penn State. MSU continued to battle tying the contest at 11-11 before a 6-1 run edged the Nittany Lion lead to 17-12 forcing George to take her first timeout of the third set. Penn State proved superior at the net, as it took the 30-21 third game win and 3-0 match sweep.
MSU returns home to East Lansing Friday Oct. 21 when it plays host to Wisconsin and Northwestern in Big Ten play on Saturday. Both games are slated for 7 p.m. start times at Jenison Field House.
