Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Wisconsin
Spartan Volleyball Defeated By No. 6 Wisconsin
11/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 10, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball team (16-7, 9-7 Big Ten) saw its five-match winning streak come to an end at the hands of sixth-ranked Wisconsin (21-3, 15-1), 30-25, 30-25, 30-20, in front of a season-best 2,202 fans at Jenison Field House Saturday night.
Wisconsin, which finished as national runners-up last season and is aiming for its second straight Big Ten title, thwarted MSU with solid defense and pinpoint attacking. The Badgers recorded 51 digs in the three games, spoiling several solid attacks by MSU with spectacular digs. Wisconsin also hit .364 while limiting Michigan State to a .179 hitting percentage.
"The effort was there," said MSU head coach Chuck Erbe, "but Wisconsin played unbelievable defense. That's how they got to the national championship match last season."
Sophomore Jenny Rood (Ada, Mich.) and freshman Kim Schram (London, Ont.) led MSU with 11 kills each, while junior Kyla Smith (Comox, B.C.) had a match-high 10 digs for the Spartans while adding nine kills. Junior Angela Morley (Holland, Mich.) had five block assists for MSU, which outblocked Wisconsin, 10-5.
Michigan State started well, taking a 20-17 lead in the opening game on a kill by sophomore Nikki Colson (Lincoln, Neb.). Wisconsin rallied to tie the score at 21, before MSU took its last lead at 22-21 on a kill by Smith. Wisconsin scored the next three points and pulled away to win the opening game.
Wisconsin jumped to a 7-2 lead in game two, and MSU never recovered. The Spartans got within three at 11-8 on a service ace by junior Emily Engel (Bay City, Mich.), but never got any closer. The lead grew as high as 10 at 24-14 before four straight MSU points closed the gap a bit. Wisconsin scored 24 of their 30 points in the game on kills while hitting .409 for the game. Rood had five kills on seven swings for Michigan State during the game.
The Badgers took another 7-2 lead in game three, but this time Michigan State came all the way back to tie it at 11 on a kill by Schram - one of six in the game for her. After another tie at 13, Wisconsin took control with a 13-4 run. Rood added five more kills in the game, but it wasn't enough as the Badgers finished off the sweep.
All-American Sherisa Livingston led Wisconsin with 18 kills while hitting .571, and Jill Odenthal added 17 kills and nine digs.
Michigan State returns to action when the Spartans complete their last road trip of the regular season next weekend. MSU will battle ninth-ranked Ohio State on Friday at 7 p.m., before visiting No. 13 Penn State Saturday at 7 p.m.
