Michigan State University
Michigan
Wolverines Upset Spartans In Conference Play
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MSU vs. Michigan Box Score
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Nov. 9, 2005
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball team fell 3-0 to cross-state rival Michigan tonight in Big Ten conference play. State falls to 11-14, 4-11 Big Ten, while the Wolverines improve to 12-12 with a 6-9 mark in conference play. Three Spartans managed double-digit kills, led by Ashley Schatzle with 13, while Katie Johnson and Megan Wallin tallied 11 and 10 kills respectively. Michigan out-hit MSU by a .244 to .144 mark, while defensively the home team held the 11.0 to 7.0 block advantage.
After a back-and-forth battle to start the contest, the Wolverines took the slight 11-9 lead. The Spartan defense held strong however as a Davis and Wallin block assist would tie game one at the 13-13 mark. MSU took the 19-17 lead after a Jessica Hohl kill, forcing Michigan to take its first timeout of the contest. The teams would again match points, however UM rallied for the 30-26 opening set win. Hohl posted a floor-high .800 hitting percentage for the set, adding four kills for the Spartans. Johnson also tallied four kills, while Langston and Schatzle added three kills each. The Wolverines out-hit MSU .229 to .140 for the set, however defensively the Green and White held the 3.0 to 2.0 total block advantage.
State would open game two with a 6-4 advantage, extending its lead to 8-6 after a monstrous kill by Johnson. The visitors would continue to dominate the floor as back-to-back kills by Langston and Schatzle, and a block by the Spartan defense, would force Michigan to take its first timeout at the 15-11 mark. The Wolverines would tally three of the next five to near the State lead at 17-14. Down 26-21, the Michigan offense would rally to score three of the next four, closing the Spartan lead at 27-24 forcing MSU to take its first timeout of game two. After a Michigan kill would tie the contest at 28-28, the teams would match points until a block by the Wolverine defense gave the home team the 33-31 victory. Through the first two sets, Johnson and Schatzle led the Spartan hitters with nine and seven kills respectively, while Davis added 13 assists for the set.
Carrying momentum from an exciting game two, the Wolverines opened the third set with an early 7-3 lead. State would near the lead at 14-13, before a kill from Wallin would tie the contest at 15-15. MSU would take the slight 19-18 lead, however a service error by the Spartans and a kill by Michigan's Katie Bruzdzinski would swing the advantage back to the home team. After a point-for-point rally, Michigan took the 27-25 lead en route to the 30-27 third set win, and 3-0 match sweep.
Schatzle would lead the Spartan offense with 13 kills in the match, while Davis added 44 assists and four digs in the loss. Michigan rallied to post 11.0 total blocks against 7.0 by the Spartan defense. Colaluca bettered her single-season record with 21 digs on the night, while sophomore Tracy Bellwood would add 10 digs and two aces for the Spartans.
Michigan State will continue Big Ten action when it plays host to Indiana this Saturday at Jenison Field House. Game time is slated for 8 p.m.
