Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Villanova
Spartan Volleyball Records Fourth Consecutive Sweep
9/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball team improved its record to 5-0 for the year with a 3-0 sweep against Villanova (0-4) competing at the 2006 Spartan Invitational, Friday night at Jenison Field House. State recorded its fourth consecutive sweep posting scores of 30-22, 30-19 and 30-27.
"The crowd was so vocal and energetic tonight, which made for a great playing atmosphere," Spartan head coach Cathy George said. "Our team picked up right where we left off this afternoon. We played with a very balanced offense and I was very pleased to see so many people contribute to this win."
Setter Allison Ianni directed the Green and White offense with 45 assists, adding three kills, two digs, and two block solos. Outside hitter Katie Johnson tallied 17 kills on 30 attempts for a season-high .500 hitting percentage, while outside hitter Ashley Schatzle recorded 10 kills, two digs and one block solo for the match.
"We passed the ball very well tonight and played strong defense, which allowed us to stay in our system of play," Ianni said. "We want to thank the crowd so much for their support, their energy really contributed to the win."
Defensively, each team managed 32 digs, while the Spartans held a 13.0 to 2.0 total block advantage, led by Johnson with six block assists and middle blockers Jessica Hohl and Mischelle Nelson with one block solo and five block assists each. Libero Nicole Colaluca tallied a match-high 11 digs in the Spartan backcourt, while Melany Rarey and Tracy Bellwood contributed five and four digs, respectively.
The teams matched points early in the opening set before a Johnson kill pushed the Spartan lead to 15-10 at the midway point. Both teams went on runs of two and three points before a block assist by Nelson and Heather McDaniel began a streak of four consecutive Spartan points for a 26-20 advantage. Michigan State scored four of the final six points to secure the 30-22 game-one victory. Johnson paced the Green and White offense, posting six kills on seven attempts for a .857 hitting percentage, while Hohl and McDaniel added five and three kills, respectively. Ianni posted 13 assists and directed the offense to a .621 hitting percentage for the game.
Game two saw the Spartans jump to an early 7-4 lead behind a block assist by Johnson and Nelson. State scored four of the next six points to push the lead to 11-6 behind three consecutive kills by McDaniel. Villanova called its first timeout of the set at 18-14 and scored three of the next four points out of the break to pull within two at 19-17 but Michigan State scored nine of the last 10 points to take game two, 30-19. Ianni spread out 13 assists, while Johnson added six kills and four block assists. Hohl anchored the Spartan defense, posting one block solo and four block assists, while McDaniel added five kills for the set.
With the Spartans up 19-13 in game three, Villanova rallied to score five straight points to pull within one at 19-18. The teams matched points three times before the Wildcats placed a kill down the line to tie the score at 22-22. Back-to-back kills by Ianni gave MSU the slight edge at 28-25 before Johnson and McDaniel connected on consecutive swings to take game three, 30-27. Schatzle posted a game-best six kills, adding one block solo, while Johnson added five kills and two block assists at the net.
Michigan State concludes action at the 2006 Spartan Invitational when it faces Miami (Fla.), Saturday night at Jenison Field House. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Fans will receive free entry to the Spartan volleyball match when they present their ticket stub from the MSU versus Idaho football game on Saturday.
