Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
South Carolina (South Carolina Invitational)
MSU Volleyball Struggles At South Carolina, Falls 3-2
9/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 18, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Brooke Langston and Katie Johnson each had 18 kills, while Maggie Griffin had 54 assists as Michigan State volleyball (5-3, 0-0 Big Ten) fell to South Carolina (6-2, 0-0 SEC), 3-2, in the Spartans' final match of the Gamecock Invitational at South Carolina Saturday afternoon. Game scores were 22-30, 21-30, 30-21, 30-25, 6-15.
Johnson's 18 kills were a career best for her. Redshirt freshman Tracy Bellwood saw considerable action at libero, posting career-high digs (14), service aces (3) and kills (1) totals. Griffin had two kills, three service aces and six digs to go along with her assist total. As a team, the Spartans hit .172 in the match, compared to USC's .329
South Carolina was in control throughout the first game, pulling out to a 20-12 lead, and won, 30-22, as the Spartans struggled with their offense, hitting .000 (8K-8E-31TA), compared to the Gamecocks' .455 (19K-4E-33TA). State had three service aces in the game, including two from Maggie Griffin.
The second game saw more of the same, as State continued to struggle. A three-point service run from Mickey Davis moved MSU within three points of South Carolina (19-16), but the Spartans couldn't sustain the momentum, and fell in game two, 30-21. Poor hitting again plagued the Spartans, as their .241 (13K-6E-29TA) in the game was no match for USC's .529 (20K-2E-34TA). Brooke Langston had five kills on a .250 attack percentage, while Griffin had 10 assists. Andrea Hansen had a block solo in the game, while both Miken Trogdon and Mickey Davis posted service aces for State.
MSU regrouped to win the third game, 30-21, as the Spartans' offense was much improved. They never trailed in the game, and posted a .324 attack percentage (18K-6E-37TA) while holding USC to .200 (10K-4E-30TA). Katie Johnson had four kills, a service ace and two digs, while Four Spartans had three kills each. Griffin had 15 assists in the third game, to go along with two kills, a dig and a service ace.
State opened up a five-point lead (17-12) in the fourth game, but the Gamecocks came back to tie the game at 17-17. The teams traded the lead from there, with five ties until MSU took the lead on a four-point service run from Megan Wallin put MSU up for good and gave State the 30-25 win. Three Spartans provided all 18 of State's kills in the game, as Langston and Johnson had seven each and Wallin added four. Griffin assisted on all 18 kills in the game.
South Carolina jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the fifth game on a four-point service run from Lauren Ford. The Spartans couldn't overcome the lead, and fell, 15-6. Johnson had two kills, while Wallin and Langston each added one, all off assists from Griffin. State hit -.231 (4K-7E-13TA) in the final game of the match, while USC posted a .571 attack percentage (4K-0E-7TA).
Redshirt freshmen Trogdon and Jessica Hohl made their Spartan debuts, while fellow redshirt Bellwood saw her first time at libero, playing the position in the second, third, fourth and fifth games.
MSU's Sunday contest against No. 2 Southern California at South Carolina was canceled when USC did not make the trip to South Carolina, citing weather and safety concerns. Michigan State opens the 2004 Big Ten season at No. 1 Minnesota on Friday Sept. 24 before traveling to Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 25. Both matches are 8 p.m. EDT start times.
South Carolina 3, Michigan State 2 (Columbia, S.C.)Michigan State K E TA Pct.Game 1 8 8 31 .000Game 2 13 6 29 .241Game 3 18 6 37 .324Game 4 18 8 41 .244Game 5 4 7 13 -.231TOTAL 61 35 151 .172
South Carolina K E TA Pct.Game 1 19 4 33 .455Game 2 20 2 34 .529Game 3 10 4 30 .200Game 4 11 7 39 .103Game 5 4 0 7 .571TOTAL 64 17 143 .329
