Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Notre Dame (NCAA Tournament Second Round)
MSU Volleyball Advances To Sweet Sixteen
12/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 8, 2002
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Michigan State volleyball team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1996 by thumping Notre Dame, 30-28, 30-20, 30-23, Sunday afternoon at the Joyce Center, snapping Notre Dame's 36-match home court winning streak. The Spartans, who improved to 21-11, will face top-ranked USC on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m. Pacific time (8 p.m. Eastern) in Santa Barbara, Calif. The winner of that match will play the winner of host UC Santa Barbara and Pepperdine to determine the West Region's Final Four participant.
Junior Jenny Rood (Ada), known to her teammates as "Rudy", keyed the victory against the school that made a football player named Rudy famous. Rood had a match-high 13 kills with one error on 20 swings for a .600 attack percentage, and added four blocks and three service aces. Seniors Angela Morley (Holland) and Kyla Smith (Comox, B.C.) had 12 kills each, while sophomore Kim Schram (London, Ont.) added 10. The Spartans were solid offensively, pounding 52 kills in three games with a .314 attack percentage.
I'm very pleased. I'm proud of our team," said MSU head coach Chuck Erbe. "These kids stayed all summer long. This is a tired team, and that was one of their goals to advance past the second round. This program has just been stymied since 1996 for whatever reason.
Junior Nikki Colson (Lincoln, Neb.) dished out 42 assists and added 12 digs for her team-leading 16th double-double of the season. Junior Emmy Miller (Okemos) had a team-high 13 digs for the Spartans, who owned a 53-45 advantage in digs over the Irish. Redshirt freshman Megan Wallin (Sarasota, Fla.) equalled a career-high with nine blocks for MSU, which outblocked Notre Dame, 15-8.
"Ever since the Big Ten ended and we found out that we were in the tournament, we seemed to have a renewed sense of love and passion for the game," said Colson. "We decided to get better every day. We showed renewed confidence in each other and in ourselves."
In the opening game, Smith had three kills during a 7-2 run that gave MSU a 10-7 lead, but Notre Dame answered with a 7-2 run of its own to move ahead 14-12. A Schram kill capped a 4-0 run that gave MSU back the lead at 19-18, but Notre Dame evened the score at 21. After an Irish serving error, Wallin had a key solo block that keyed a string of four straight points to give MSU command. Notre Dame scored two straight points to inch within 29-28, but a Rood kill on the next point gave game one to the Spartans. MSU pounded 19 kills in the game while outhitting Notre Dame, .366 - .260. The Spartans also outdug the Irish, 21-15, and had four blocks to two for Notre Dame.
In game two, a pair of blocks by Wallin and Colson highlighted a streak of six straight Spartan points that put MSU on top, 12-6. A Bellwood ace, another Wallin solo block and a kill by Morley capped 6-0 MSU run that stretched the lead to 20-8. MSU cruised from there as Notre Dame never got closer than eight points the rest of the game. MSU hit .325 in the second game to just .146 for Notre Dame, and stuffed five Irish shots. Wallin was in on all five blocks, collecting two solos and three assists.
MSU trailed 4-1 early in game three, but a 10-2 run capped by Wallin and Schram block put MSU in control, 11-6. Notre Dame crept back into the game and finally tied the score at 17. After another tie at 18, Smith slammed three kills during a 7-0 run that put the Spartans on top for good, 25-18. Notre Dame never seriously threatened after that, and a Rood kill at match point wrapped up the Sweet 16 berth for MSU. The Spartans didn't hit as well in the final game, attacking at a .243 clip, but Notre Dame fared worse, hitting just .077.
For the game, Notre Dame hit only .169. MSU also had the advantage in serving and passing, collecting five service aces while allowing only two, and committing just seven service errors to nine for Notre Dame. Notre Dame, the Big East champion, ended its season with a 24-8 record.
"Our players have been battle-tested - they've been in that situation where their backs are to the wall, and they found a way to respond," added Erbe.
Spartan Notebook
* The Spartans are now 11-8 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including a 3-4 record in second-round contests. MSU had lost its last four second-round matches prior to today's contest.
* Michigan State defeated Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The Spartans beat the Irish last year in the opening round, 3-1, in Madison, Wis.
