Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Villanova
No. 25 Volleyball Opens Season With Win Against Villanova
8/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior Jenny Rood (Ada, Mich.) had a career-high five block solos and led Michigan State volleyball with 13 kills as the Spartans (1-0) defeated Villanova (0-1), in three games (30-14, 30-27, 30-25) in the opening match of the Maryland Invitational here Friday.
MSU had three players with double-digit kills on the night, as sophomores Megan Wallin (Sarasota, Fla.) and Diana Steplyk (Libertyville, Ill.) posted 11 and 10, respectively. Senior setter Nikki Colson (Lincoln, Neb.) led all players with 38 assists and 11 digs on the night.
Wallin not only hit .474 against the Wildcats, but also led MSU to its 30-14 win in game one, as she reeled off 10 consecutive serves for the Spartans. She took the serve with a 14-10 lead in the game and continued at the line until Villanova forced a sideout with the score 23-10. Steplyk contributed a service ace and six digs to the Spartans' efforts on the evening.
In the second game, MSU led by as many as seven points (14-7) and managed to hang on to win, though the Wildcats came back to close the gap to two points at 27-25 and 28-26. Kills by Kim Schram (London, Ont.) and Wallin gave the Spartans a 30-27 win.
In the final game, MSU never led by more than five points (17-12), though Sara Villwock (Ft. Collins, Colo.) posted five kills, including posting two of the final four points in the game. MSU closed out the match with a 30-25 win.
State is now 20-11 all-time in season openers and 9-2 in head coach Chuck Erbe's tenure at MSU. The Spartans have won their season-opening match in each of the last seven years.
Tennessee and Maryland, MSU's Saturday opponents, played the second game Friday night. State faces Tennessee at 1 p.m. and Maryland at 7 p.m. on Aug. 30.
