Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Minnesota
MSU Volleyball Comes Up Short In Upset Bid
11/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 16, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball team gave a valiant effort against No. 6 Minnesota Saturday night in Jenison Field House, but couldn't come up with the big plays when it needed them. The result was a disappointing 30-24, 27-30, 30-27, 30-21 victory for the Gophers that clinched a share of the Big Ten title for Minnesota.
The Spartans had opportunities to pull the upset, but didn't execute properly in key moments, and as a result slipped to 16-10 overall and 8-8 in the Big Ten. Minnesota won for the 10th straight time to improve to 28-3 overall and 15-1 in the Big Ten.
Junior Jenny Rood had a team-high 15 kills and added a career-best eight blocks for the Spartans, while sophomore Kim Schram pounded 13 kills. Junior Nikki Colson had her team-leading 12th double-double with 48 assists and 12 digs, while senior Kyla Smith also had 12 digs to go with nine kills.
"We competed hard but didn't execute," said MSU head coach Chuck Erbe. "The effort was there but the end result was not."
MSU had a chance to seize control of the match in the pivitol third game, with the match tied at one game each. A Smith kill had given MSU a 26-25 edge and the Spartans were on the brink of taking a two-games-to-one lead, but after a timeout, Minnesota slammed three straight kills followed by a service ace to take a 29-26 lead, and MSU couldn't recover.
Then in game four, the Spartans led 15-13 when five MSU attack errors plus a ball handling error keyed a 9-0 Minnesota run that essential put the match out of reach. The Spartans did inch within 23-20 after a Rood kill, but the Gophers scored the next points and went on to close out the match.
Minnesota entered the match having swept Michigan, which had been undefeated at home, the night before, and the Gophers continued their solid play with a 30-24 victory in the opening game. Minnesota hit .306 in the game and dug 16 balls to get off on the right foot.
Michigan State rebounded with a solid effort in game two. MSU led 11-10 early, before surging ahead with a 9-3 run that included two kills, two blocks and a service ace from Rood. Minnesota closed within 26-25, but back-to-back kills by Schram helped MSU even the match at one game each. MSU hit .385 in the game with 17 kills and only two errors, and stuffed four Gopher attacks.
But MSU's errors proved costly in the final two games, as the Spartans hit just .098 in game three and .045 in game four, accumulating eight attack errors in each game.
For the match, Minnesota hit .244 while the Spartans attacked at a .174 clip. MSU did own a 14-10 edge in blocks, but the Gophers racked up 71 digs to 52 for the Spartans.
MSU heads to the road for an important road contest at Illinois, Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. CT.
