Michigan State University
Wisconsin
Spartans Swept By Badgers In Big Ten Action
9/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 29, 2006
MADISON, Wis. - The Michigan State volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to conference foe Wisconsin on Friday night, sending its record to 10-2, (1-2 Big Ten) for the year. The Badgers won by scores of 30-22, 30-25, and 30-26 to improve to 11-2, 3-0 in conference play.
The Spartans matched a season-low 44 kills, and Jessica Hohl and Ashley Schatzle tallied 10 and 12, respectively, for the match. Outside hitters Katie Johnson and Vanessa King added six and seven kills, respectively, while setter Allison Ianni spread out 34 assists, adding four digs and four block assists in the loss.
Wisconsin won the defensive battle, posting 9.0 total blocks against 6.0 by the Spartan defenders. Hohl anchored the Green and White at the net, posting a team-best five block assists, while libero Nicole Colaluca tallied a match-high 19 digs in the Spartan backcourt.
The teams matched points early in the opening set before the Badgers scored four straight to open a 12-7 lead and force the first Spartan timeout of the match. State went on a 4-1 run out of the break, but Wisconsin scored nine of the next 14 points to push its lead to 22-17. Michigan State failed to match the run, as the Badgers held strong for a 30-22 win. Heather McDaniel paced the Green and White offense with four kills, while Hohl and Schatzle each added three in the opening set.
A 4-1 run gave Wisconsin a 17-13 lead midway through game two. Trailing 26-19, the Spartans posted a 5-1 run to pull within three at 27-24, but the Badgers scored three of the final four points to claim a 30-25 win, and 2-0 lead heading into the intermission. Ianni tallied 10 assists in the set, directing Schatzle to a team-high four kills.
The Spartans struggled to find a rhythm in the opening points of game three, which allowed Wisconsin to take a commanding 15-9 lead at the halfway point. Trailing 20-14, MSU went on a 6-2 run to pull within two at 22-20, forcing Wisconsin to utilize its first timeout of the set. The teams matched points twice out of the break before a block by Hohl and Ianni pulled the Green and White within one at 24-23, but the Badgers scored six of the final nine points to clinch the sweep with a 30-26 game-three victory. Hohl led the Spartans with four kills on eight attempts (.500), while Colaluca tallied a floor-high 14 digs for the set.
The Spartans continue conference action on the road on Sunday at Minnesota. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. ET at the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.
