Spartans Lose Five Game Thriller

Oct. 21, 2005

EAST LANSING, Mich. -

MSU vs. Wisconsin
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The MSU volleyball squad played its opening contest of Homecoming weekend tonight in front of a crowd 1,500 strong at Jenison Field House. Despite four Spartans with double-digit kill totals, State fell in a five game thriller to 7th ranked Wisconsin (30-26, 21-30, 30-25, 27-30, 9-15). After the loss, MSU stands at 9-10 overall, 2-7 Big Ten, while the Badgers improve to 16-2 and 8-1 in conference play. The Spartans were led by outside hitter Katie Johnson, who returned from injury with 24 kills, while setter Mickey Davis added 65 assists in the loss.

MSU opened the contest with a strong 30-26 game one victory. The Spartans led the majority of the set with the biggest lead at the 20-14 mark after an Ashley Schatzle kill from the right side. The Badgers managed to near the score at the 25-24 mark, forcing State head coach Cathy George to take her first timeout of the contest. Behind back-to-back kills by Megan Wallin and a kill by Schatzle, Brooke Langston sealed the set for MSU with a monster kill at the middle position. Johnson led the way in the first with seven kills, while defensive specialist Tracy Bellwood and libero Nicole Colaluca paced the Spartan defense with four digs each.

After dominating the opening set, MSU hit just .171 in the second as the Badgers captured the 30-21 win. Through the first half of game two, both teams matched point-for-point before Wisconsin began to pull away at the 16-14 mark after an error by State at the service stripe. Although MSU held the edge with 16 kills against 13 by the Badgers, 10 errors by the Spartan offense allowed the visitors to even the match at 1-1.

MSU regained the upperhand with a 30-25 game three victory. The teams matched points early in the set, however four straight points behind the service of freshman Melany Rarey gave State the 19-18 advantage. The Spartans hit considerably better in the set, .256 compared to just .122 by the Badger offense. Johnson tallied six kills in game three, Schatzle added four while Colaluca led the defense with six digs in the win.

Game four saw the momentum swing back in the way of the Badgers. Again plagued by 11 hitting errors, MSU dropped game four 27-30, as Wisconsin evened the contest at 2-2. The set was tied at the 18-18 mark before an Audra Jeffers kill and attack error at the net by MSU gave the visitors the 20-18 advantage. The Spartans battled back to near the Badger lead at 25-23, however 6.0 total blocks compared to just 1.0 by State, gave Wisconsin the defensive edge and set win.

MSU entered its sixth five game match of the season as the teams took the court in the deciding game of the night. Despite an early 2-0 lead by MSU, the Wisconsin offense capitalized off of 11 hitting errors by the Spartans to take the 15-9 set win, and 3-2 match victory.

For the match, Wisconsin held the 17.0 total block advantage compared to just 7.0 by the Spartans, while MSU out-dug the Badgers 60-53. Langston, Schatzle and Wallin each added 15 kills, while Johnson tallied a floor-high 24 for the night. Bellwood added two aces with 12 digs for the match, while Wallin paced the Spartan defense with one block solo and three block assists in the loss.

MSU returns to action Saturday night from Jenison Field House when it plays host to Northwestern at 8 p.m.