Michigan State University Athletics
Volleyball Prepares For WMU Ameritech Invitational
9/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 15, 1999
? MSU LOOKS TO DIAL IN WIN AT AMERITECH INVITE: Michigan State heads to Western Michigan on Sept. 17-18 for the Ameritch Invitational, featuring WMU, DePaul, Niagara, Loyola and MSU.
Western Michigan is 5-2. The Broncos won their Bronco Spiketacular Invitational last weekend, defeating Central Connecticut, Army and Illinois-Chicago, all 3-0. WMU is led by Mandy Whitfield who is averaging 3.14 kills and 2.59 digs per game. Setter Jen Nowak is averaging 10.70 assists, while Traci Morin leads the team at 1.55 blocks per game. Michigan State leads the series 17-9-1. MSU won the last meeting on Oct. 28, 1998, 3-0 (15-9, 15-9, 15-7).
DePaul is 4-3 on the season. The team hosts Wisconsin-Green Bay on Sept. 15. The Blue Demons won their first three matches in a row. Last weekend, the team defeated Valparaiso, 3-1, but lost to Middle Tennessee State (3-0) and Eastern Michigan (3-1). DePaul is led by Stephanie Bishop and Lara Clarkson, who both are averaging 3.52 kills per game. Bishop is the team leader with 3.78 digs per game. Setter Kara Jakusz is averaging 11.96 assists per game, while Christa Dirr has 0.71 blocks per game. DePaul leads the series 3-2. DePaul won the last meeting on Sept. 11, 1992, 3-0 (15-13, 15-6, 16-14).
Niagara is 1-6 on the season. The Purple Eagles played at the Pittsburgh Invitational last weekend, losing to Pittsburgh, Akron and Radford, all 3-0. The team has four hitters, all averaging over 2.0 kills per game. Setter Laurie Haefner averages 6.5 assists per game, while Jodie Bowers leads the defense with 3.71 digs per contest. Michigan State leads the series 1-0. MSU won the last meeting on Sept. 13, 1996, 3-0 (15-2, 15-1, 15-6).
Loyola is 4-2 overall. The Ramblers hosted the Loyola Adidas Invitational last weekend, winning by defeating Sam Houston State (3-0), Delaware (3-1) and Central Michigan (3-2). The series is tied 1-1. Michigan State won the last meeting on Sept. 14, 1996, 3-0 (15-13, 15-8, 16-14).
? SANBORN BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior middle Jessica Sanborn was named the Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 13. Sanborn earned MVP honors at the UMass Motorola Invitational in Amherst, Mass., on Sept. 10-11 after averaging 4.53 kills, 0.69 assists and 1.46 digs per game with an impressive .616 attack percentage. She led the Spartans to wins over New Hampshire, Southern Miss, Seton Hall and UMass. Sanborn tallied a career-high 18 kills against Seton Hall, 15 kills with no errors against Southern Miss, 14 kills and six block assists against UMass and 12 kills and seven digs against UNH. She totaled 59 kills and only six errors for the whole tourney. Her attack percentage of .882 (15-0-17) against Southern Miss was the fourth-best single-match performance in MSU history. For the season, Sanborn leads the Spartans in kills per game (4.16) and is second in blocking at 0.84 blocks per game. She also has the highest hitting percentage on the team at .462.
? TRENDS AND LEADERS: Home: 2-2 Away: 1-0 Neutral: 3-0 When leading after one game: 6-1, When leading after two games: 5-0, 3-game matches: 5-1, 4-games: 1-0, 5-games: 0-1, Kills: 4.16 pg, J. Sanborn, Digs: 2.67 pg, K. Cook, Blocks: 0.88 pg, A. Morley, Aces: 0.59 pg, C. Landry.
? VICTORY IN AMHERST: Michigan State defeated Seton Hall, Southern Miss, New Hampshire and host Massachusetts to claim the 1999 Motorola UMass Invitational Tournament. Jessica Sanborn was named the MVP of the tournament, while Christie Landry and Sarah Gustin selected to the all-tournament team. The Spartans dropped only one game the entire tournament, to Seton Hall. Sanborn hit .882 (15-0-17) against Southern Miss, the fourth-best single-match hitting percentage in school history. Maren Witzel upped her career numbers with 15 kills on .294 hitting and 11 digs against UMass in the championship game. ? 2,000: Setter Christie Landry became just the fifth player in MSU history to accumulate 2,000 career assists. She is just three assists shy of overtaking Julie Pavlus for the No. 4 spot on the all-time career chart. Judy Doles (1985-88) holds the Michigan State record with 4,151. Landry is averaging 12.73 assists per game.
? ERIN APPARENT: Sophomore outside hitter Erin Hartley marked her return to the MSU volleyball team from the USA Junior National Team with 53 kills on .327 hitting, while averaging 2.46 digs and 0.54 service aces per game to help MSU take the 1999 Motorola UMass Invitational Tournament on Sept. 10-11.
? COOKIE CRUMBS: Senior defensive specialist Kayleen Cook has seen action in two matches this season, doubling her playing time from last year. Against New Hampshire at the UMass Invitational, Cook subbed in and collected four digs, while tallying four against Eastern Kentucky in the L&L Classic on Sept. 3-4.
? DIGGIN? IT: Junior outside hitter Sarah Gustin led MSU players with 37 digs, averaging 2.84 per game, at the UMass invitational last weekend.
? A RIGHT ENGEL: Freshman Emily Engel received her first career start against New Hampshire at the UMass Invitational last weekend. She has seen action in four of MSU?s eight matches so far this season.
? SEEING DOUBLE: Five players have tallied double-doubles so far this season, including three last weekend. Here?s the rundown:
Christie Landry - 41 ast, 12 digs v. Texas A&M, 9/4
Jessica Sanborn - 15 kills, 12 digs v. Texas A&M, 9/4
Erin Hartley - 19 kills, 10 digs vs. UMass, 9/11
Maren Witzel - 15 kills, 11 digs vs. UMass, 9/11
Sarah Gustin - 12 kills, 12 digs vs. Seton Hall, 9/11
? BIG TEN STANDINGS: Big Ten Matches-All Matches: 1. Indiana 0-0 .000-6-0 1.000 2. Penn State 0-0 .000-8-1 .889, 3. Michigan 0-0 .000-5-1 .833, Purdue 0-0 .000-5-1 .833, 5. Michigan State 0-0 .000-6-2 .750, Minnesota 0-0 .000- 6-2 .750, Ohio State 0-0 .000- 3-1 .750, 8. Wisconsin 0-0 .000-4-2 .667, 9. Illinois 0-0 .000-3-2 .600, 10. Iowa 0-0 .000- 0-3 .000, Northwestern 0-0 .000- 0-6 .000
