Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Illinois
Volleyball Survives Illinois In Five
10/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 1, 2000
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Michigan State volleyball team defeated Illinois 15-2, 4-15, 15-13, 6-15, 15-12 in Champaign on Saturday, Sept. 30 to raise its record to 3-0 in five-game matches this season. MSU is now 10-3 on the season, 3-1 in the Big Ten. Illinois falls to 9-6 overall and 0-4 in the conference. The Spartans have now won six-straight matches in Champaign.
Junior outside hitter Erin Hartley captured her first career triple-double, leading the Spartans with 18 kills, 11 digs and a career-high 10 blocks. It was the second MSU triple-double in two weeks. Prior to that, Michigan State hadn't had a player with a triple-double since 1995.
Senior middle Jessica Sanborn hit 17 kills on .538 hitting with eight blocks while senior outside hitter Sarah Gustin and freshman outside hitter Amy Sibbernsen both had 16 kills.
MSU hit .335 as a team and outblocked the Illini 16-10. Illinois also hit high at .301 and out dug the Spartans by a huge 64-47 margin.
The Spartans built up a 9-1 lead in game one and cruised to the finish line with a 15-2 win. However, as cohesive as the Spartans looked in the first game, the team looked like strangers on the court in the second. Illinois built a 9-0 lead before MSU could even get on the scoreboard and won the game 15-4 to tie the match.
Michigan State jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in game three. The Illini responded with six-straight points and went on to open a 10-6 lead. MSU battled back and tied the game at 11. The Spartans took their first lead in the game since 3-0 at 12-11 on a Sanborn kill. The Illini's Shadia Haddad responded with a kill and a Gustin hitting error gave the game another tie at 12-12. Illinois took a 13-12 lead on a Sanborn blocking error but a service error by Illinois and a service ace by middle Angela Morley tied things back up at 13. The team's traded sideouts before back-to-back UI hitting errors gave the Spartans the 15-13 win.
After a 1-1 tied in the fourth frame, Illinois took control of the game. MSU drew to within two at 6-8 before Amber Lindner served the Illini to the win with seven-straight points, including three service aces.
MSU immediately opened a 4-2 lead behind the strong serving of setter Christie Landry but Illinois came right back to take a 6-5 lead. A Hartley kill tied the game back up at six and the Spartans never trailed again, winning 15-12.
The Spartans host Penn State at 8 p.m. on Oct. 6 and Indiana at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7.
