Michigan State University
Louisville - Orange and Green Challenge
Spartans Fall To Ninth-Ranked Louisville
9/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MSU vs. Louisville Box Score
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Sept. 16, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
MSU-Louisville Box ScoreDownload Free Acrobat Reader
The Spartan volleyball squad traveled to Coral Gables, Fla. this weekend competing at the Orange & Green Challenge hosted by the University of Miami. The Spartans faced ninth-ranked Louisville in opening day action, falling to 6-2 in a tight five game match (30-23, 22-30, 30-28, 27-30, 10-15). Leading the way for MSU was sophomore outside hitter Katie Johnson who tallied 22 kills and a career-high six aces in the loss, while setter Mickey Davis tallied 52 assists and four digs. Ashley Schatzle and middle hitter Megan Wallin added 15 and 16 kills respectively, while libero Nicole Colaluca managed 21 digs and two aces for the Spartans.
State started tournament action strong handing the Cardinals their first game loss of the 2005 season with a 30-23 opening set victory. U of L took a commanding 6-1 lead to start the contest, however a three-point swing from the service of setter Mickey Davis neared the Cardinal lead at 6-4. Behind the service expertise of outside hitter Katie Johnson, MSU took its first lead of the contest at the 16-15 mark in game one. Defensive specialist Nicole Colaluca tallied her team-leading 13th ace of the season, edging the State lead to 19-16. A monstrous block assist by sophomore Jessica Hohl and Davis gave the Spartans the 23-17 lead they would not relinquish. Two consecutive Johnson kills to end the contest gave MSU the game one victory as State tallied .237 compared to just a .031 hitting percentage at the net by the U of L offense. Johnson tallied three aces in the first game alone, while sophomore Ashley Schatzle hit .857 with six kills in the first set win.
The Louisville side of the court controlled game two from the start. An 8-1 run, en route to a 19-13 lead, proved too strong, as the MSU offense was never able to overcome the six-point deficit. Johnson tallied two aces, a total of five through two games, adding six kills and two digs in the 30-22 game two loss. Defensively the Spartans struggled as well, posting just one total block compared to four total blocks by U of L, while a .053 hitting percentage by the MSU front court and 11 hitting errors led to the Cardinal win. Davis added 13 assists during the second set, while sophomore Tracy Bellwood tallied a game-best four digs.
The Spartan offense regained momentum in game three with a 30-28 victory. MSU held the 15-10 lead after a block solo and service ace by Johnson. The Cardinals rallied to near the State lead at 25-24, forcing MSU head coach Cathy George to take her first timeout of game three. A Megan Wallin kill and Hohl-Langston block assist, edged the MSU lead to 27-24 before a block solo by U of L's Lena Ustymenko halted the State rally. A Hohl kill and Marley Bellwood ace sent the Spartan lead to 29-26, followed by two Cardinal kills nearing the lead at just 29-28. A lengthy rally ended game three as a Davis tip gave the Spartans the 2-1 game advantage. Wallin led the Spartans with seven kills in game three, while Davis added 14 assists in the win.
Back and forth play continued in game four as U of L took the 30-27 set victory. The Cardinals took the 17-11 lead until a block solo by Langston gave the Spartan defense fire. Both sides of the court were plagued by service errors in the fourth set, however State rallied to near the U of L lead at 27-24 behind a block solo by Hohl. Johnson added her 20th kill of the match at the 28-26 mark, however a setting error by Davis tied the match at two games each.
The Spartans jumped to a 4-2 deciding game lead, however a service error and Cardinal ace tied the contest at 4-4. After four consecutive U of L points, George took her first timeout of game five as the Louisville lead stood at 8-4. Down 9-4 State took its final timeout of the contest hoping to halt the Cardinal scoring momentum. A Wallin kill neared the lead at 9-5, however the Cardinals took the 15-10 game five and match victory.
MSU continues action at the Orange & Green Challenge Saturday at 11:30 a.m. when it faces host Miami, followed by a 5 p.m. match-up with Sacramento State.
