Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Northwestern
Volleyball Stymies Northwestern, 3-0
11/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2004
EVANStON, Ill. - Kim Schram had a match-best 17 kills as Michigan State volleyball claimed a 3-0 decision (30-22, 30-24, 30-28) at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Friday. The Spartans improve to 12-13 overall and 7-10 in the Big Ten, while Northwestern falls to 8-19 overall and 3-14 in league play.
Schram had four blocks and 11 digs to go along with her 17 kills, while Maggie Griffin posted 37 assists and 10 digs. Meghan Schoen had seven kills and three block, and Katie Johnson added eight kills and three blocks. Libero Marley Bellwood recorded some timely serves for the Spartans, including the final two of the match, to go along with 10 digs. Senior Michelle Kopka ended the match with five kills, three service aces and eight digs.
The first game was close early until a four-point service run from Kopka gave the Spartans a 19-14 lead, and State hung on and pulled out the 30-22 victory. Schram had seven kills on .385 hitting for the Spartans to go along with eight digs, while Kopka added two and two service aces, as well as two blocks. Griffin had 12 assists, and Schoen added two kills of her own, as well as a service ace and a block assist. State hit .188 (12K-6E-32TA0, while holding Northwestern to a .077 (13K-10E-39TA) attack percentage.
State jumped out to an early lead in the second game, with an 8-2 lead, thanks in large part to a four-point service run from Griffin that included three service aces. Northwestern fought back to tie the game at 8-8, and then took a 14-12 lead. MSU tied the game at 16-16, and again at 20. From there, though, State pulled out to a 28-23 lead and coasted to the 30-24 two-game lead. Schram had six kills in the game, while Langston added two of her own. Griffin had 11 assists, three aces and four digs in the game. Bellwood had five digs in the second game. State hit .257 (13K-4E-35TA), while NU hit .125 (14K-9E-49TA).
The third game saw State trail early, 9-5, before the Starptans fought back to tie the game at 12-12. State built a three-point lead at 19-16. The Wildcats hung around, never letting State take more than a four-point advantage, though MSU won the match with the final third-game 30-28 win. Schoen had five kills in the third game, while Johnson, Schram and Kopka each had three. Griffin added 13 assists, while Bellwood had four digs.
MSU concludes its final road trip of the regular season Saturday at Wisconsin in an 8:30 p.m. EST match. The Badgers defeated Michigan, 3-0, Friday.
Michigan State , Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.)Michigan State 30 30 30Northwestern 22 24 28
Michigan State K E TA Pct.Game 1 12 6 32 .188Game 2 13 4 35 .257Game 3 15 8 38 .184TOTAL 41 18 106 .217
Northwestern K E TA Pct.Game 1 13 10 39 .077Game 2 14 9 40 .125Game 3 18 9 40 .225TOTAL 45 28 119 .143
