Michigan State University
Minnesota
Spartans Suffer 3-0 Setback To No. 12 Minnesota
11/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 3, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball team suffered a 3-0 setback against No. 12 Minnesota in conference action on Friday night at Jenison Field House. Minnesota won by scores of 30-16, 30-25, 30-25. With the loss, MSU falls to 15-8, 6-7 Big Ten, while the Golden Gophers improve to 17-6, 11-2 against conference opponents.
The Spartans were led by junior outside hitter Ashley Schatzle with 12 kills, while middle blockers Vanessa King and Jessica Hohl added eight and four, respectively, in the match. Senior setter Allison Ianni spread out 25 assists, adding three kills for the Green and White. The Gopher offense posted 51 kills and a .263 attack percentage against just 35 kills and a .163 effort by the Spartans at the net.
Minnesota held the defensive edge, out-blocking MSU 9.0 to 7.0, while the Gopher backcourt tallied 40 digs compared to 31 by the Spartan defenders. Libero Nicole Colaluca led the Green and White with nine digs, while defensive specialist Melany Rarey and Schatzle contributed six and five, respectively. Hohl led the Green and White with five block assists, while Ianni added four blocks in the loss.
The Gophers were led by outside hitter Meghan Crumpston with 15 kills, while Meredith Nelson added 11 kills on 16 attempts for a match-high .500 attack percentage. Malama Peniata anchored the Minnesota backcourt with 16 digs and two aces, while setter Rachel Hartmann contributed 41 assists and two block assists in the match.
In game one, Michigan State trailed 11-18 before Minnesota put together a 7-2 run to push its lead to 24-13. The teams matched points twice late in the set, but an attack error by the Spartan offense saw Minnesota take game one, 30-16. Schatzle tallied a team-best four kills in the set, while Ianni spread out eight assists, adding one dig for the Green and White.
The Spartans took a 10-5 lead early in game two, but Minnesota answered with a 12-2 run to hold a 17-12 lead midway through the set. Michigan State scored seven of the next 10 to pull within one at 20-19, but the Gophers finished the set on a 10-6 run to lead the match 2-0 at the break. In the 30-25 game-two loss, Schatzle and King contributed three kills each, while freshman outside hitter Whitney Tremain added two kills and one dig for MSU.
Rarey served eight straight points in game three to spark a 9-1 run and give MSU its first lead of the set, 16-15. The teams matched points seven times before the Gophers connected on consecutive swings to take a 25-23 advantage. Minnesota ended the set on a 5-2 run to clinch the conference sweep with a 30-25 game-three victory. Ianni spread out nine assists in the set, directing Schatzle to five kills, while Hohl and outside hitter Katie Johnson each contributed three kills for the Green and White.
The Spartans conclude weekend action against No. 10 Wisconsin on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Fans who hold a ticket stub from Saturday's Michigan State-Purdue football game will receive free admission to the match.
