Michigan State University Athletics
Volleyball Travels To Michigan For Big Ten Showdown
10/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 10, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Spartan Match Notes
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The Spartan volleyball team continues Big Ten play on Wednesday when it travels to face intrastate rival Michigan at 7 p.m. in Ann Arbor. Michigan State leads the all-time series, 42-29-1, however the Wolverines have won three of the last four meetings between the two schools.
Weekend Review
Michigan State split weekend matches with a 3-0 win over Illinois and a 3-2 loss to Northwestern. Katie Johnson averaged 8.00 kills per game to lead the Spartans against the Illini, and posted a team-high 24 kills in the loss to the Wildcats. Freshman middle blocker Vanessa King enjoyed a career day at the net, posting 9.0 total blocks (1 solo, 8 assists) in the loss to Northwestern.
Last Season Against Michigan
Michigan captured its fourth consecutive State Pride Flag in 2005, winning both contests between the two schools. The Wolverines took a five-game victory in the first match of the season, where Katie Johnson and Ashley Schatzle posted 22 and 12 kills, respectively. Michigan's defense dominated the second meeting between the conference rivals, as the Wolverines posted 11.0 total blocks against just 7.0 by the Spartans to sweep the season series.
National Spotlight
Michigan State ranks first in the nation in kills per game (17.54) for the fifth consecutive week in the most recent NCAA statistics (Oct. 2). The total is slightly better than second-place Nebraska (17.52) and third-place St. John's (17.40). Setter Allison Ianni ranks seventh in assists per game (13.33), directing the Green and White to third place in team assists per game (16.08) and 13th in hitting percentage (.288).
The State Pride Flag
Michigan State and Michigan share a long history of rivalries, both in academics and athletics. Beginning in 1990, the two state of Michigan Big Ten Conference institutions began a "State Pride" season series to celebrate the in-state rivalry. Each University hosts a "State Pride Night" when the teams meet during the regular season.
A state of Michigan flag bearing the motto "Tuebor" or "I will defend," serves as a symbol of the volleyball rivalry with the winner of the season's head-to-head matches retaining possession of the flag for a year. The flag flew over the State Capitol on Sept. 18, 1990. In addition to the State flag, each school's winning year is listed on its half of a special Michigan State-Michigan banner.
Five-Game Matches
Following last Saturday's loss to Northwestern, MSU is 0-3 in five-game matches this season.Michigan State played in 10 five-game matches in 2005, going 4-6 in those contests. Two of those five-game victories came against Iowa, while State also defeated Northwestern and Virginia Commonwealth in matches that went the distance.
The `King' Of The Net
Freshman middle blocker Vanessa King has made significant offensive and defensive contributions throughout the conference season. King has posted double-digit kill totals in four of six Big Ten contests, including a career-high 16 versus Indiana. Despite the recent loss to Northwestern, King dominated at the net, as the Spring Lake, Mich. native accounted for 9.0 blocks (1 solo, 8 assists), and a floor-high .636 attack percentage (15k-1e-22ta).
Big Ten's Depth Unmatched in Conference History
Three weeks into the conference season, the Big Ten is the lone major conference (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, SEC) to boast all its member volleyball squads with an overall winning percentage of .500 or better. Prior to this year, the Big Ten had never experienced this top-to-bottom success with all teams at .500 or better after two weeks into the conference season. In addition, an impressive nine teams this year have won two-thirds (67 percent) or more of their overall schedule.
Now And Then
During the non-conference portion of the season, the Spartan offense posted 18.32 kills per game and 16.87 assists per game, against 11.03 and 10.23, respectively, by its opponents. The numbers look much different in Big Ten play however, as MSU holds a narrow 16.24-16.12 kill per game advantage, and 14.80-14.68 assist per game edge.
By The Numbers
Offensively, the Spartans have dominated their opponents through the first 16 matches of the year. MSU averages 17.39 kills per game compared to 13.30 by its opponents, while the Spartans hold a higher hitting percentage (.294/.209) and tally more assists (15.95/12.21) per game. At the net, State ranks six in the Big Ten standings with 2.46 blocks per game and seventh with 14.96 digs per game, compared to 1.98 blocks per game and 11.50 digs per game, respectively, by its opponents.
On Pace
The Spartan volleyball team is on pace to have its best offensive performance in recent seasons. The Green and White has ranked atop the NCAA in kills per game throughout the 2006 campaign, including the most recent report (Oct. 2) with 17.54 kpg. State has failed to finish the season with a kill-per-game mark of 17.00 or above since the 1996 season (17.16) when the Spartans advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.
Milestone Marker
Katie Johnson recorded the 1,000th kill of her career against Minnesota on Oct. 1, posting a team-best 22 kills in the five-game contest. The Brooklyn, Mich., native added a career-high 35 kills against Purdue (Sept. 22), posting her first double-double of the season (11 digs), and tallied back-to-back matches with 24 kills against Illinois (Oct. 6) and Northwestern (Oct. 7).
Around The Big Ten
In the current Big Ten statistics, Michigan State ranks first in kills per game (17.39), first in assists (15.95) and third in hitting percentage (.294). Among Big Ten competitors, Allison Ianni is second in assists per game (13.21), and ranks 10th in hitting percentage (.333). Katie Johnson (4.98) and Ashley Schatzle (4.33) rank second and eighth, respectively, in kills per game, while Nicole Colaluca is third in digs per game (4.98).
Top Marks
Setter Allison Ianni is one of 24 volleyball players from around the nation, and the only member of the Big Ten Conference, to record a triple-double thus far in 2006. Ianni kicked off the season by posting 11 kills, 55 assists and 10 digs on Aug. 25 against IPFW. The feat marked the first Spartan triple-double since the 2000 season, when Erin Hartley tallied 18 kills, 11 digs and 10 blocks.
Double-Double Strong
A trio of Spartans posted double-doubles in the opening weekend of conference play, led by Allison Ianni with 67 assists and 14 digs versus Purdue (Sept. 22), and 56 assists and 10 digs against Indiana (Sept. 23). Katie Johnson dominated the Green and White offensive attack against the Boilermakers, posting a career-high 35 kills and a season-high 11 digs, while Ashley Schatzle contributed 22 kills and 11 digs in the match.
Bring on the D-D-Defense
Thus far in 2006, junior defensive specialist Miken Trogdon has posted double-digit dig totals in six matches (IPFW-11, ASU-14, Oakland-10, Indiana-13, Minnesota-12, Northwestern-11) which is four better than her total for the 2005 season. Trogdon has also contributed from the service stripe, posting 15 aces for the year - including a total of three against EMU, Oakland and Indiana.
2005 Michigan Series
• MSU leads, 42-29-1
Game 1
East Lansing, Mich. • Sept. 21, 2005 • Michigan, 3-2
Despite four Spartans posting double-digit kill totals, Michigan State dropped the opening contest of the 2005 Big Ten season to the Wolverines. Michigan won by scores of 23-30, 30-21, 23-30, 30-28, 15-13. Katie Johnson tallied her ninth match of the season with at least 20 kills (22) to lead the Green and White, while Megan Wallin and Ashley Schatzle added 17 and 12, respectively.
Game 2
Ann Arbor, Mich. • Nov. 9, 2005 • Michigan, 3-0
Michigan captured its fourth straight State Pride Flag by defeating the Spartans 3-0 in the second meeting between the two schools. Michigan won by scores of 30-26, 33-31, and 30-27. Three Spartans managed double-digit kill totals, led by Ashley Schatzle with 13, while Katie Johnson and Megan Wallin tallied 11 and 10, respectively. Michigan led in nearly every statistical category, including attack percentage (.244-.144), and total blocks (11.0-7.0).
• The Series: Michigan has claimed three of the last four matches between the intrastate rivals. MSU last defeated the Wolverines during the 2004 season
