Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Minnesota
Minnesota Defeats Volleyball In Four
10/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 20, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Spartans fell to Minnesota in four games on Friday night in Jenison Field House, 15-6, 15-8, 15-11, 15-4. Michigan State falls to 12-6 overall, 5-4 in the Big Ten. Minnesota is now 19-1 overall, 8-1 in the conference. The Spartans were playing without two of their regular starters, outside hitter Sarah Gustin and middle Jessica Sanborn, who are both out with foot injuries, but were lucky in that outside hitter Amy Sibbernsen was recovered enough from an ankle sprain to return to the lineup.
Erin Hartley led the Spartans with 18 kills, 14 digs and five blocks. Jenny Rood tallied a career high 18 kills to go with eight digs and four service aces, while Maren Witzel contributed 10 kills, seven digs and two blocks. As a team, however, the Spartans amassed 27 service errors and were outblocked 14-8. MSU did hit better, .200-.169.
Michigan State came out in game one and surprised the seventh-ranked Gophers, 15-6 behind strong performances by Jenny Rood, who had eight kills, and Erin Hartley and Maren Witzel, who tallied five each. The Spartans outhit Minnesota .254-.065.
Minnesota came back in game two and took a commanding 9-0 lead. The Gophers' Lisa Axel held serve for each of the nine points, including three service aces. MSU came back to score five straight but U of M was well on its way, and cruised to a 15-8 decision. Nicole Branagh led the Gophers with four kills in the game.
The Gophers pulled out to a 3-0 lead in the third game but the Spartans came back to take a 4-3 lead. The teams seesawed early before Minnesota pulled out to a 10-7 lead and never looked back. The Gophers outhit the Spartans .240-.140 in the game, led by Stephanie Hagen with eight kills on .727 hitting. Erin Hartley scored seven kills in the match to lead the Green and White.
The fourth game was all Minnesota. Lindsey Berg led off with her killer jump serve and helped the Gophers go up 6-0 and eventually win 15-4. Hartley scored another five kills in the game for the Spartans, who hit .263 to Minnesota's .286.
Michigan State hosts Iowa Saturday night at 8 p.m. in Jenison Field House.
