Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Illinois
Spartan Volleyball Conquers Third Straight Ranked Opponent
11/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 23, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball team (19-7, 12-7 Big Ten) continued its torrid pace, sweeping No. 21 Illinois (19-8, 12-7), 30-24, 34-32, 30-27, Friday night at Jenison Field House. The victory moved the 22nd-ranked Spartans into a tie for fourth place with Illinois in the Big Ten standings entering tomorrow night's season finale. The win also allowed MSU head coach Chuck Erbe to win his 500th career match. Erbe now owns a 500-220-3 record in his 21st season as a head coach.
Senior Erin Hartley (Midland, Mich.) led MSU with 20 kills while hitting .469, and added nine digs and four blocks. Junior Kyla Smith (Comox, B.C.) was Michigan State's other big gun, pounding 15 kills and hitting .394. Sophomore Nikki Colson (Lincoln, Neb.) had her fifth double-double with 47 assists and 11 digs, while freshman Diana Steplyk (Libertyville, Ill.) had a career-best 14 digs. Junior Angela Morley (Holland, Mich.), the reigning national player of the week, had an off night attacking the ball with only three kills, but had 10 block assists and 11 total blocks, with both marks tying school records for blocks in a three-game match.
Michigan State dominated statistically, hitting .299 to Illinois' .197, and collecting 50 digs to just 38 for the Illini. The Spartans also had more blocks (14-10) and more kills (59-47).
It was Illinois that got off to a good early start, taking a 19-15 lead in game one. MSU responded with a 7-2 run to take a 22-21 lead on a solo block by Morley. After a tie at 22, the Spartans reeled of five straight points, including three kills from Smith, to take command, and went on to capture the first game. MSU limited Illinois to a -.026 attack percentage in the opening game, thanks in part to five blocks.
The second game was amazingly tight, with neither team ever leading by more than two points. There were an incredible 25 ties, including at every point from 25 through 32. A Hartley kill gave MSU a 29-28 lead and game point, but Illinois responded. Twice more the Spartans had a game point but couldn't convert. Finally, after a kill by Steplyk gave MSU a 33-32 lead, Hartley closed out the game with her 10th kill of the game. Both teams pounded the ball in game two, as MSU hit .373 while Illinois attacked at a .360 clip.
Illinois looked poised to stay alive in game three, racing to a 16-9 lead before MSU began chipping away. Trailing 20-16, MSU scored seven unanswered points, taking the lead on yet another Hartley kill. Illinois managed to even the score at 24, but kills from Hartley and Smith and an Illinois ball handling error put MSU in control. The Spartans closed out the match on a kill by Colson.
The victory was MSU's eighth in its last nine matches, and followed impressive road victories last weekend at then-No. 9 Ohio State and No. 14 Penn State. The Spartans conclude the regular season Saturday night with an 8 p.m. match against Indiana.
