Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Green & White Game (Exhibition)
No. 25 Volleyball Begins 2003 With Green & White Match
8/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 23, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State volleyball, ranked No. 25, opened its 2003 season with the Green & White exhibition match Saturday night in Jenison Field House. The teams played four games to a 2-2 tie, as the Green team won the first and fourth games, 30-22 and 15-9. The White team won the second and third games, 30-20 and 15-13.
"Tonight just proved the middles are the strength of our team right now," said head coach Chuck Erbe. "We got some good play from them. However, we also saw some things we need to work on, including cutting down on unforced errors from the outside. That's where the game is often won and lost. We're getting better at the off play, but that outside hitting makes a difference and needs to step up and be more consistent."
Middle Jenny Rood (Ada, Mich.) hit .481 on the night for the Green team, with a match-high 14 kills and just one error. She posted two service aces and two blocks. Kim Schram (London, Ont.), also a member of the Green team, had 13 kills to go along with three block solos and one block assist on the night. Outside hitter Diana Steplyk had a match-high 12 digs and added seven kills, two aces and three block assists.
The setters switched teams throughout the night, allowing each of them to play two games with all members of the Spartan squad. Senior Nikki Colson (Lincoln, Neb.) had 36 assists and eight digs on the night, while sophomore Mickey Davis (Villa Hills, Ky.) passed out 30 assists and had seven digs.
For the White team, outside hitter Sara Villwock (Ft. Collins, Colo.) recorded 11 kills and eight digs, while teammate Megan Wallin (Sarasota, Fla.) also posted 11 kills. Wallin, a middle, led her squad with five blocks on the night, one solo and four assists. Michelle Kopka (Scarborough, Ont.) recorded 11 digs for the White team and added eight kills and three assists. Brooke Langston (Germantown, Tenn.) hit .444 for the White squad, with nine kills on 18 attacks and an error.
Though each team posted a game with an attack percentage better than .300, the split squads led to percentages below the norm for MSU. The Green team hit just .115 on the night with a best game of .313 in the fourth. The White squad hit .160, with a match-high .333 in the third game.
Michigan State opens the regular season at the Maryland Invitational Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30, as it takes on Villanova at 5 p.m. Friday. Saturday, the Spartans face Tennessee at 1 p.m. and play Maryland at 7 p.m.
MICHIGAN STATE GREEN & WHITE EXHIBITION MATCHGAME SCORES 1 2 3 4Green 30 20 13 15White 22 30 15 9GreenTeam Attack/Game K E TA Pct.1 13 4 32 .2812 8 11 43 -.0703 9 6 31 .0974 8 3 16 .313WhiteTeam Attack/Game K E TA Pct.1 14 10 41 .0982 17 10 42 .1673 6 0 18 .3334 6 4 18 .111
