Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Minnesota
MSU Volleyball Sweeps No. 24 Minnesota
11/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 3, 2001
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Spartan volleyball team must have Minnesota's number this year. Michigan State (15-6, 8-6 Big Ten) swept No. 24 Minnesota (13-9, 7-7) Saturday night in Minneapolis, 30-24, 30-23, 30-21, giving the Spartans their second straight sweep this season against the Gophers - something MSU will not be able to say about any other opponent.
Senior Erin Hartley (Midland, Mich.) had 13 kills to lead MSU, which has won four straight matches to move into sole possession of fifth in the Big Ten, just one game behind Illinois for fourth. Freshman Kim Schram (London, Ont.) added 12 kills, while junior Kyla Smith (Comox, B.C.) completed a stellar weekend with 11 kills for the Spartans. Sophomore Nikki Colson (Lincoln, Neb.) added 42 assists and a team-high nine digs while adding four total blocks, while junior Angela Morley (Holland, Mich.) added to her league-best block total with six block assists.
The Spartans dominated statistically, totaling 53 kills to 44 for Minnesota, outdigging the Gophers 45-39, and outblocking Minnesota 12-5. MSU hit .304 to just .186 for the Gophers, and the Spartans had seven service aces to just four service errors, wile Minnesota had only two aces and six errors.
After nine ties through the first half of the opening game, Michigan State took control when two Smith kills started a 6-0 run that turned a 20-18 deficit into a 24-20 lead. The run reached 10-1 on a solo block by Colson that put MSU up 28-21 and the Spartans cruised to a one-game-to-none lead. MSU had six service aces in the opening game, including three by junior Emily Engel (Bay City, Mich.).
Michigan State's blocking keyed game two, as Morley was in on four blocks during an 8-1 run that pushed a slim 11-10 lead to a 19-11 advantage. Minnesota closed within 24-22, but Hartley had three kills down the stretch as MSU won six of the last seven points.
The Spartans looked ready to suffer a third-game swoon when the Gophers ran to a 6-1 lead, but MSU chipped away. Trailing 17-14, Hartley took over, slamming four kills as MSU scored seven of the next eight points to forge ahead, 21-18. A Gopher point was followed by three straight Minnesota errors and a block by Colson and Rood, and MSU kept the momentum going, finishing with a 16-4 burst to close the match.
"I'm really pleased with our kids," said MSU head coach Chuck Erbe. "We haven't played well on the road. We've done a lot of work mentally and it really showed tonight.
"I felt that our defense was excellent," added Erbe. "We just kept digging and digging and digging."
Michigan State returns to action when the Spartans host Northwestern Friday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m.
