Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Sacramento State - Orange and Green Challenge
State Falls In Five Game Thriller
9/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MSU vs. Sacramento State Box Score
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Sept. 17, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The Spartan volleyball team concluded action at the Orange & Green Challenge tonight facing the Sacramento State Hornets. In a thrilling five game set, State fell to 7-3 on the year with a 3-2 loss (30-28, 30-25, 28-30, 17-30, 11-15) at the hands of Sacramento State. Sophomore captain Katie Johnson tallied 26 kills, while setter Mickey Davis managed 71 assists in the loss.
After a Brooke Langston and Jessica Hohl block assist for the Spartans, the score stood at 4-4 in the opening set of the non-conference match-up. Play between the two teams was point-for-point until MSU edged to a 24-21 lead forcing the Hornets to take their first timeout of the contest. Sacramento State scored six of the next eight points to tie the game at 27-27 before a Wallin kill, and Hornet hitting error gave State the 29-27 advantage. Megan Wallin's seventh kill of the game gave MSU the 30-28 victory in the opening set. Wallin and Johnson each added seven kills, while libero Nicole Colaluca posted nine digs in game one. Despite 12 hitting errors by State at the net, 22 kills compared to just 12 kills by the Hornet offense propelled MSU to the 1-0 game advantage.
State opened game two taking a 23-19 advantage before two straight Hornet points neared the MSU lead at 23-21. Solid defense at the net by Sacramento State narrowed the State lead at 28-25 forcing head coach Cathy George to take her first timeout of the contest. MSU regained momentum however, as two straight kills by Johnson gave MSU the 30-25 game two win and the 2-0 game advantage for the match. Johnson added nine kills and one block solo for the set, while Davis tallied a floor-high 20 assists. Langston and Wallin added five and four kills respectively while MSU hit .318 compared to the .237 by the Hornet offense.
Sacramento State controlled the tempo of game three jumping out to an early 8-5 advantage. The Hornets managed to out-score the Spartans through the majority of the third set before two consecutive block solos by Wallin and Johnson knotted the score at 21-21. Davis recorded her first ace of the match as State took its first lead at the 22-21 mark of game three. Hitting errors by the MSU offense allowed the Hornets to regain the 25-22 lead. A Tracy Bellwood service ace tied the contest at 28-28; however two straight kills by the Hornet outside hitters propelled them to the 30-28 game three win.
Although MSU dominated the first two sets of the match, the Hornets proved strong in third and fourth sets of the night. Offensive momentum carried over for Sacramento State as it opened the fourth set with a commanding 20-12 lead. The Sacramento State offense tallied 17 kills en route to the 30-17 game four victory evening the contest at two games each.
A Johnson kill opened the deciding match of the night, however three straight Hornet kills gave them the early 4-1 advantage. Two consecutive Wallin kills narrowed the lead at 6-5. With the contest tied at 8-8, an MSU hitting error gave the Hornets the 9-8 upperhand, which would prove enough as the Hornets took the deciding game 15-13 and the 3-2 match win.
State was led by Johnson with 26 kills for the contest, adding nine digs in the loss. Davis tallied 71 assists and 13 digs, while Colaluca tallied a season-high 45 digs vs. Sacramento State.
Michigan State will host cross-state rival Michigan this Wednesday (Sept. 21) in the Big Ten Conference season opener. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. at Jenison Field House.
