State Drops Tough Decision to Illini

MSU vs. Illinois
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Oct. 8, 2005

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball squad played host to Big Ten foe Illinois Saturday night at Jenison Field House where the Spartans fell in a five-game contest 2-3 (30-28, 28-30, 29-31, 32-20, 12-15). With the loss, State falls to 9-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play, while the Illini improve to 11-6, 2-4 Big Ten. Leading the way for MSU was sophomore outside hitter Ashley Schatzle who posted a career-best 24 kills, while senior Brooke Langston added 18 kills in the loss.

The opening set of the night saw a back-and-forth battle between the two schools with Michigan State taking the 30-28 victory. MSU's Katie Johnson left the opening set early with an injury, however the State offense rallied around four kills by Schatzle and 12 assists by setter Mickey Davis to take the set. Both school's tallied 2.0 total blocks to open the night, while MSU held the slight advantage hitting .205 compared to the .195 of the Illini.

Although the Spartans out-hit the Illini .265 to .220, Illinois rebounded in the second set to take the 30-28 game two win. MSU libero Nicole Colaluca tallied eight digs, while Davis added 14 assists and two digs. At the 8-8 mark, senior defensive specialist Marley Bellwood served the Spartans to three straight points edging the lead to 11-8 before a Vicki Brown kill halted the scoring streak. Neither team managed a lead better than five points in the set, however a strong presence by the Illini defense gave them the second set win.

After the intermission, Illinois continued to dominate the floor. Hitting just .320 compared to the .396 of the Spartans, the Illini offense added 23 kills and 20 digs en route to the 31-29 win. State was led by Schatzle adding seven kills for her highest set total of the night, while Davis dished 18 assists in the loss. Needing a win in game four to push the match to the deciding fifth game, State captured the 32-30 victory. Two consecutive kills by Schatzle sent MSU to game point where Jessica Hohl served the final point of the set, sending MSU to its sixth five game match of the season.

The Illini jumped to a 4-1 lead in the final game of the night before a Megan Wallin kill neared the lead at 4-2. The teams matched points until a Rasa Virsilaite kill gave Illinois the 10-7 lead it would never relinquish. The Spartans rallied to take two points nearing the Illini lead at 13-10, however a strong effort at the net by Illinois gave them the set, 15-12, and a 3-2 match victory.

Davis finished the night with 69 assists, while Colaluca added 28 digs and three aces in the loss. Johnson re-entered the contest in the third game to post 14 kills for the night, while Hohl and Langston added four block assists each defensively for the Spartans. Wallin tallied 14 kills in the conference loss.

MSU returns to action when it travels to face nationally-ranked opponents Ohio State and Penn State in Big Ten action next weekend. The Oct. 14 and 15 match-ups are both slated for 7 p.m. start times.