Spartans Fall In Conference Action

Sept. 30, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Michigan State volleyball team continued Big Ten action tonight facing ninth-ranked Minnesota at The Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis. Behind 13.0 blocks at the net by the Gopher defense, the home team captured the 3-0 conference sweep (30-26, 30-27, 30-21). With the loss, State falls to 8-5,1-2 Big Ten, while Minnesota improves to 12-2, 2-1 in conference play. Leading the way for the Spartans was Katie Johnson with 15 kills, while libero Nicole Colaluca managed 18 digs in the loss.

State led for the majority of the opening set, however the Minnesota offense edged to a 19-17 advantage forcing Spartan head coach Cathy George to take her first timeout of the evening. A Brooke Langston kill and Mickey Davis ace tied the contest at 19-19 before the Golden Gophers took a 24-21 advantage. MSU battled to near the score at 29-25, however 5.0 total blocks by the Minnesota defense anchored the 30-26 opening set win for the home team. Offensively, Johnson pounded five kills at the net for the Spartans, while Davis added 14 assists and five digs. Libero Nicole Colaluca tallied a floor-high nine digs during game one.

Game two saw a point-for-point battle between the two schools before State took the 18-16 lead behind a service ace by Langston. With the game tied at 24-24, the Minnesota offense caught fire as consecutive kills by Meghan Cumpston and Sarah Florian propelled the Golden Gophers to the 30-27 game two win. State tallied just 2.0 total blocks in the set compared to 7.0 total blocks at the net by the Minnesota defense. Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Schatzle pounded five kills and one block assist, while Davis added 12 assists.

The Gophers broke out to an 8-2 lead to open the third set of the night, however the Spartan offense rallied to tie the contest at 10-10. Minnesota rallied off 10 of the next 13 points to take control of Game Three, 20-13, before George was forced to take her final timeout of the stanza. The Spartans kept battling and drew the score to within five at, 25-20, but would get no closer. The Gophers took game three 30-21.

The Spartans continue Big Ten Conference play tomorrow when they travel to face the Iowa in a 7 p.m. (cst.) matchup at Hawkeye-Carver Arena.