Illini Offense Overpowers Spartans In Big Ten Action

Oct. 29, 2005

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Despite 30 kills from outside hitter Katie Johnson and 52 assists from setter Mickey Davis, the Spartan volleyball team fell to Illinois in Big Ten action Friday night from Champaign. The Fighting Illini took the 3-1 match victory sending the Spartans record to 10-11, 3-8 Big Ten thus far in 2005. Illinois improves to 11-11 with a 3-8 Big Ten slate. State libero Nicole Colaluca tallied 18 digs, her 21st match with double-digit kills in 2005 in the loss.

At the 13-13 mark in game one, the Illini would score six of the next ten to take the 19-17 upperhand. The Spartan offense continued to battle, as back-to-back kills by Langston and Wallin neared the Illinois lead at 25-21. Illinois would score three straight behind the service of Lizzie Bazzetta to take the set to game point at the 29-25 mark. MSU's Melany Rarey sparked the Spartan side of the court with two services aces in three points to tie the contest at 29-29. Illinois would regroup to take the next two behind outside hitter Rachel VanMeter and capture the 31-29 win. Hitting woes continue for State posting 11 errors against 15 kills in the set. Johnson tallied a floor-best eight kills,while Davis added 13 assists in game one.

The Spartans jumped to a 12-8 lead in the opening points of the second set, before consecutive points by the Illini offense tied the contest at 12-12. Bazzetta would serve the Illini to four straight taking the 18-14 upperhand. The teams would match points as Wallin tallied her third kill of the set nearing the Illinois lead at 24-19. Out-blocking the Spartans 3.0 to 1.0 in the second set, Illinois took the 30-23 win and 2-0 match advantage. Johnson added five kills for the set, while Colaluca added three digs for the Spartan defense.

Johnson pounded her 14th kill of the match tying game three at 4-4 early in the set. Tracy Bellwood added a back row kill and service ace to give State the slight 7-5 advantage. The Spartans continued to dominate scoring four consecutive points to take the 9-5 lead forcing Illinois to take its first timeout of the set. Illinois would score three straight to near the State lead at 14-13 as MSU took its first timeout hoping to halt the Illini momentum. An ace by the Illinois offense tied the contest at 20-20, however Marley Bellwood led State to three consecutive points regaining the 23-20 advantage. A solid effort saw MSU capture the 30-26 game three win, nearing the Illini advantage at 2-1 for the match. Through the first three games, Johnson led MSU with 19 kills, while Davis had 39 assists to pace the Spartan offense.

Illinois began game four with five consecutive points behind the service of Beth Vrdsky before a Schatzle kill halted the streak at 5-1. State rallied to climb within one at the 6-5 mark before a Colaluca ace tied the contest at 7-7. A monster block assist by the Spartan defense gave State the 22-19 lead, however the Illini frontcourt rallied to post three straight to tie the contest at 22-22. The home team would take the 28-26 lead, however consecutive kills by Johnson would again tie the contest at 28-28. Although the Spartans battled from behind all night, the Illini offense proved strong as it captured the 30-28 game four and match victory.

State hit .200 against the .262 of the Illini offense, while overall MSU tallied 70 kills for the match. Melany Rarey tied a career-best with two aces for the night, while Colaluca also added two aces in the loss.

The Spartans continue weekend action vs. the Purdue Boilermakers Saturday night from West Lafayette, Ind. Game time is set for 7 p.m. (CST).