Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Minnesota
Volleyball Falters Against No. 5 Minnesota
11/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 13, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Freshman setter Maggie Griffin had 40 assists and Kim Schram had a team-high 15 kills as Michigan State volleyball dropped a 3-0 decision (30-32, 20-30, 16-30) to No. 5 Minnesota in MSU's Jenison Field House Saturday. The Spartans fall to 11-13 overall and 6-10 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota improves to 24-4 overall and 13-3 in league play.
Griffin had a kill, three digs and two block assists to go along with her 40 assists, while Schram had six digs, a service ace and a block in addition to her 15 kills. Senior Michelle Kopka had seven kills and 13 digs for the Spartans, while libero Marley Bellwood had 12 digs on the night. Brooke Langston and Katie Johnson each had six kills and a block in the match. Minnesota out-hit the Spartans, .388-.204, and out-blocked State, 10-6.
"I was disappointed with the loss," said head coach Chuck Erbe. "They did not execute well in the serve-pass game once they lost the first game. That loss just knocked the wind out of them and they weren't able to recover."
The Spartans led most of the first game, including by five points at 18-13, before Minnesota rallied to tie the game at 22. From there, the game saw 12 ties and four lead changes until the Golden Gophers took the 32-30 victory. State actually out-hit UM, .262-.255, in the game, as Schram had five kills on nine attacks (.556), and Kopka and Langston each added four on hitting better than .333. Seven of Kopka's digs came in the first game, as did 17 of Griffin's assists.
Minnesota was in control of game two from the start, stretching to an 18-10 lead before claiming the 30-20 win. The Golden Gophers hit .487 (21K-2E-39TA) compared to MSU's .175 (13K-6E-40TA). Griffin posted 12 assists and three digs, while Schram had four kills. Johnson had three kills, and Kopka, Langston and Meghan Schoen each added two. UM out-blocked State, 2-0, in the game.
Service aces were the tale of game three, as six aces led Minnesota to the 30-16 win. The Gophers also out-hit State, .519-.161, and doubled up the Spartans' digs total, 14-7. Schram had six kills, while Andrea Hansen and Schoen each posted two kills. Kopka had three digs and two blocks in the game, and Griffin had 11 assists.
MSU takes its final road trip of the regular season next weekend, as the Spartans travel to Northwestern on Friday, Nov. 19 for an 8 p.m. EST match. Saturday, Nov. 20, State faces Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., at 8 p.m. EST.
Minnesota 3, Michigan State 0 (East Lansing, Mich.)Minnesota 32 30 30Michigan State 30 20 16
Minnesota K E TA Pct.Game 1 22 8 55 .255Game 2 21 2 39 .487Game 3 16 2 27 .519TOTAL 59 12 121 .388
Michigan State K E TA Pct.Game 1 18 7 42 .262Game 2 13 6 40 .175Game 3 11 6 31 .161TOTAL 42 19 113 .204
