Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Purdue
Volleyball Knocks Off Boilers In Four
11/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 4, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State bested Purdue on Saturday, Nov. 4 in Jenison Field House and improved to 14-9 overall, 7-7 in the Big Ten. Purdue fell to 11-15 overall, 3-11 in the Big Ten.
Sarah Gustin led the Spartans with 15 kills, 12 digs and six blocks. Angela Morley had nine kills, a career-high tying five digs and a season-best 10 blocks. Erin Hartley also notched a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs to go with four blocks.
"I was pleased with the win but we still are prone to some errors," said head coach Chuck Erbe. "It's nice we did well against this team but to be good we have to play like this against better teams and better players. This was a must-win. If we had lost this you could kiss the NCAAs good-bye."
Purdue took the early game one lead at 2-0 but the Spartans sided out and Christie Landry served up four-straight points, including two service aces. Purdue came back to take a 6-5 lead and after tying it up again at six, MSU took control of the game and scored seven nine straight to win the game 15-6. Morley had five of her nine kills and six of her 10 blocks in the match in game one to lead MSU.
The second game was all Purdue as the Boilermakers nailed a fast 6-2 lead and never relinquished en route to a 15-10 win. Maegan Petersen led Purdue with four kills in the game while Gustin had five kills for the Green and White.
The Spartans came out of the break with determination in their eyes and proceeded to hand the Boilermakers a 15-5 loss in the third game. A 5-1 lead was nearly erased as Purdue drew to 5-4 but timely blocks put the Spartans up 8-4 and they never looked back. Gustin notched another four kills in the game to go with three blocks, while Morley also tallied three blocks.
MSU came out strong again in the fourth game and cruised to a 5-1 lead, two of those points off service aces from Morley. Purdue got to within two at 8-6 but a Purdue service error sided out MSU and a service ace by Gustin and kills by Hartley and Jenny Rood gave the Spartans an 11-6 lead. From there Michigan State held for a 15-6 win. Rood and Hartley both had five kills for MSU in the game.
Michigan State hit .229 overall to Purdue's .146 and outblocked the Boilermakers 17-8. The Spartans return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Michigan on 7 p.m.
