Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Volleyball Continues Big Ten Conference Action
9/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 29, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Minnesota-Iowa Game Notes
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The Michigan State volleyball team travels to face Minnesota and Iowa as they continue 2005 Big Ten Conference action. State (8-4, 1-1) opened Big Ten play last week losing to in-state rival Michigan and defeating Indiana on the road. Outside hitter Katie Johnson ranks fourth with 5.81 kills per game on the national charts this week, while setter Mickey Davis ranks 15th with 13.21 apg, and libero Nicole Colaluca ranks 26th with 5.30 digs per contest. MSU enters its fourth consecutive week playing away from Jenison Field House when it faces the Golden Gophers and Hawkeyes this weekend. Minnesota, an NCAA Final Four participant in 2003 and 2004, lost to Stanford in the National Championship match a year ago, while Iowa did not participate in postseason play in 2004.
CHALLENGE CUP - The annual Spartans and Wolverines rivalry is underway. State and Michigan battled in the first event of the 2005 cup season in Jenison Field House last Wednesday night where the Wolverines took the 3-2 match victory over MSU.
I DON'T THINK SO! - Megan Wallin was on a defense tear in the opening week of Big Ten play, her 7 block assists vs. Michigan was a new career-best, while she nearly reached the mark again vs. Indiana posting 6 block assists and one block solo.
DAVIS, SETTLING IN - Although the 2005 season marks the first time that senior Mickey Davis has stepped into the main setting role, she has quickly settled in to her new digs. Averaging 13.44 assists in conference play, she also added 28 digs and 3.0 total blocks vs. Michigan and Indiana. Davis ranks first overall among Big Ten competitors with a 13.21 apg. average and 15th in national standings.
BIG TEN OPENERS - With the loss to U of M last Wednesday, State has gone 0-5 in the last five Big Ten Conference openers. Ironically enough, State won the 2000 conference opener defeating MICHIGAN 3-2.
NATIONAL SCENE - As of the Sept. 25 NCAA National Statistics Report, outside hitter Katie Johnson ranks fourth in the country averaging 5.81 kills per game. Johnson tallied a team-high 22 kills in the loss to Michigan, followed by a 16-kill effort vs. Indiana. Heading into weekend play, Johnson's 5.81 kpg. mark ranks her second among Big Ten opponents.
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS - Minnesota holds an 11-2 overall record and a 1-1 Big Ten slate heading into competition with the Spartans Friday night. The Gophers loss in conference play was to Wisconsin in a five-game match Sept. 23.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES - Iowa stands at 10-4 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play heading into weekend competition. The Hawkeyes face Northern Iowa on Sept. 28 and Michigan Sept. 30 before the Spartans head to Iowa City for the Saturday night contest. The two schools split decisions in 2004; however State holds the one game winning streak.
MIDDLE OF THE PACK - State stands at 8-4, 1-1 in Big Ten play as they travel to Minnesota and Iowa this weekend. MSU is one of seven institutions that enter weekend play with a 1-1 record.
AROUND THE HORN - Heading into weekend action three Spartan's rank among the nation's elite in their respective categories. Outside hitter Katie Johnson previously ranked as high as first in the nation, her 5.81 kills per game mark currently ranks her fourth on the charts. Mickey Davis boasts a 13.21 assists per game average - the tally ranks her 15th nationally, while libero Nicole Colaluca ranks 26th in the nation with 5.30 digs per game.
1,2,3 JUMP! BLOCK! - The Spartan defense is anchored by senior captain Megan Wallin who had a career weekend in Big Ten Conference play vs. Michigan and Indiana. Her seven block assists vs. Michigan was a new career-best while she nearly matched the mark with six block assists vs. Indiana. Wallin adds 3.28 kills per game and leads the MSU offense with a .259 hitting percentage thus far in 2005.
5-GAMERS - Thus far in 2005, State has played four contests that have gone the distance - the deciding fifth game. In those games, the Spartans hold a 1-3 record including a hit in the loss column against in-state rival Michigan in the Big Ten season opener on Sept. 21. In 2004, MSU played four matches that went the distance going 2-2 - wins over Wichita State and Michigan, and losses to South Carolina and Big Ten foe Purdue.
WITH THE DISH - Everyone knows the story about setter Mickey Davis, it's her first year setting - EVER! Davis ranks atop the Big Ten with 13.21 apg, and 15th in the country, while she is on pace to set a new Spartan record. The current MSU career record is 12.98 apg set by Maggie Griffin in 2004, however the single-season mark was set by Julie Pavlus in 1996 with 13.56 apg.
SISTERLY ADVICE - No, they aren't twins - YES, they are sisters! The Bellwood sisters, senior Marley and sophomore defensive specialist Tracy, have made significant contributions on the court this season for the Spartans. Marley boasts a 2.62 digs per game average with 12 aces on the year, while Tracy has tallied six aces and holds a 1.62 digs per game mark in 24 games played.
NUMBERS GAME - With just one weekend of Big Ten Conference play underway State's overall vs. conference numbers are relatively consistent. Vs. Michigan and Indiana last week, MSU averaged 15.78 kills per game compared to 12.33 by its opponents, however UM and Indiana posted a combined 14 aces compared to just five by the Spartan offense.
CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN - Errors at the service stripe have been a struggle for the Spartans in 2005. In conference play State has committed 24 service errors - nearly 12 per match! Overall MSU has 92 errors on the year compared to 101 by its opponents, 1.95 errors per game, and 7.6 per match in 2005.
ATTENDANCE RANKS - MSU always ranks among the top of the nation in attendance figures. In 2004, MSU ranked 13th averaging 1,906 per contest. In 2005 State has played five home matches averaging 1,404 Spartan faithful per date.
WHEN THE OPPOSITION IS RANKED... - State has faced one ranked opponent thus far in 2005 - Louisville at the Orange & Green Challenge falling in an exciting five game contest. The Spartans face strong competition among Big Ten competitors in `05 - Penn State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State and Purdue are all ranked in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll.
ACROSS THE NATION - Of the six major conferences in the country (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, SEC), the Big Ten is the only league to boast every team with a record better than .500. Wisconsin leads all Big Ten schools with a 10-1 (.909) mark, while Indiana is the 11th conference school over .500 at 7-6 (.538). Overall, the Big Ten is off to a 91-23 (.798) non-conference start.
FIVE BIG TEN SCHOOLS RANKED IN NATION'S TOP 25 - For the second consecutive week, five Big Ten teams are ranked in CSTV/AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Penn State (No. 4), Wisconsin (8), Minnesota (9), Ohio State (18) and Purdue (21) all found spots among the top 25 this week. Illinois is currently receiving votes.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN - MSU struggled on the road last season finishing with a 3-9 record with wins over Wichita State, Indiana and Northwestern. Thus far in 2005, the Spartans are 3-3 away from Jenison Field House.
DID YOU KNOW? - Prior to the installation of the wooden playing surface this summer in Jenison, the Spartans had played their home matches on the sport court surface from 1993-2004, a span of 12 seasons. When volleyball started at MSU, the Spartans competed on the main wooden floor at Jenison.
CAPTAIN SALUTE - Senior middle blocker Megan Wallin and sophomore outside hitter Katie Johnson will share captain duties for the 2005 season.
GEORGE TRACK RECORD - First-year head coach Cathy George has a celebrated coaching record. She was the first woman to coach a team to the NCAA Final Four in just her first season at the helm of the Texas-Arlington program in 1989. Posting winning seasons and strong academic numbers are key aspects of any Cathy George run program. Student-athletes boasted a 100 percent graduation rate during her time at WMU - an amazing figure coaching at any level of athletics.
TOURNEY TALK - The 2004 campaign marked the first season in the last 10 that the Spartans did not participate in the NCAA Championship Tournament - an impressive run, and one of the longest streaks in the NCAA prior to missing tourney action in 2004. During that 10-year streak, the Spartans posted a combined 11 victories.
RECORD BREAKERS IN `04 - Senior Marley Bellwood enters this season as the new record holder for digs per game as she tallied 395 digs in 92 games last season for the Spartans. Her average, 4.29, breaks a 15-year old MSU record.
AVCA ALL-REGION HONORS - Kim Schram earned AVCA All-Mideast Region honors for the second consecutive year. She was a 2003 AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honoree.
ALL-BIG TEN HONOREES - Kim Schram was a unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches, marking the second year she's been honored as a first-team choice. Maggie Griffin was named to the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team, becoming the third Spartan in the program's history to receive the accolade.
Minnesota - Minnesota enters play against the Spartans after loosing a five-game match on the road to 10th-ranked Wisconsin last week, before defeating Northwestern in three games to better their Big Ten tally at 1-1. The match-up with State will be the Golden Gophers first home game since Sept. 5 - Minnesota has won its last six Big Ten home openers. The Golden Gophers are currently ranked ninth in the AVCA Top 25 poll this week, just below fellow Big Ten opponent Wisconsin. Thus far in 2005, the Gophers are led by Meredith Nelson who averages 3.22 kills per game, while libero Paula Gentil ranks first in the conference, and sixth in the nation with her 5.85 digs per game heading into weekend action. The Golden Gophers are led by Mike Hebert in his 10th season at Minnesota, where he led his 2003 and 04' squads to consecutive Final Four appearances and the 2004 team finished as the National Runner-Up.
Iowa - The University of Iowa volleyball team won a five-game contest over in-state rival Northern Iowa 3-2, Tuesday night in non-conference action. The win was the first time Iowa has defeated Northern Iowa since 1989. Freshman setter Kiley Fister recorded the team's first triple double since Fabiana de Abreu pulled the feat in 2000. The St. Charles, IL, native dished out 53 assists, pounded 11 kills and recorded 10 digs. Catherine Smale led the squad with 20 kills adding 17 digs, while Tiana Costanzo added 16 kills in the win. Head coach Cindy Fredrick enters her second year at the helm of the Hawkeye program where she led her team to an overall record of 10-22 in 2004. State holds the slight 26-22 series advantage over the Hawkeyes, in games played away from Jenison Field House, MSU holds the 12-2 upperhand.
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