Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Volleyball Continues Homestand Against Toledo
9/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 14, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Radio - Michigan State Live Audio
The Michigan State volleyball team looks to improve on its 8-1 record when it plays host to Mid-American Conference foe Toledo, Saturday at 7 p.m. In the most recent NCAA statistics report (Sept. 12), the Spartans rank second in both kills per game (18.12) and assists per game (16.76), while the respective totals rank first among Big Ten Conference opponents. The Michigan State marketing and promotions office and Chili's Restaurant of Okemos will also host the Volleyball Victory Dinner prior to Saturday's match. The event, which is open to the public, will run from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. in the Jenison Field House parking lot where Chilis will provide a meal for $5 and a Giant Slide and Bounce House will be available for young Spartan fans.
The Series MSU holds a 4-2 lead in the all-time series against Toledo. The teams meet for the first time since the 1991 season when the Rockets swept MSU in the opening game of the Spartan Invitational.
Oakland Recap After splitting two matches last weekend at the Sports Import Classic, Michigan State returned home to post its seventh sweep of the season in a 3-0 victory over Oakland. A trio of Spartans tallied double-digit dig totals, led by Ashley Schatzle with 11, while outside hitters Jessica Hohl and Katie Johnson each added 10 kills. The Spartans out-blocked OU 10.0-4.0, and tallied 57 kills against just 25 by the OU offense.
Sports Import Classic Review The Spartans went 1-1 last weekend competing at the Sports Import Classic hosted by Ohio State University. MSU was swept by Arizona State in the opening game of weekend play and rebounded with a 3-0 victory versus Tennessee Tech on Saturday afternoon. Katie Johnson posted a team-best 3.83 kills per game in weekend play, while setter Allison Ianni dished 12.83 assists per game, adding 1.50 digs per game and 0.50 blocks per game. MSU's 8-1 record marks the best start to a season since the 1995 campaign.
National Spotlight In the most recent NCAA national statistics (Sept. 12), the Spartans rank second in kills per game (18.12), second in assists per game (16.76), and 13th in hitting percentage (.299). Individually, setter Allison Ianni ranks fifth with 13.84 assists per game, while outside hitter Katie Johnson ranks 21st with 4.80 kills per game. In 2005, Johnson ranked as high as first in the nation with 6.18 kills per game and finished the season ranked 15th (4.95 kpg), while libero Nicole Colaluca finished the year ranked 23rd (5.41) in digs per game.
Coming On Strong Junior Jessica Hohl boasts a team-high .399 hitting percentage and is one of three Spartans to average better than 1.0 blocks per game (1.11). Over the past six matches, the middle blocker from Waterville, Ohio, has 3.44 kills per game, five service aces, one block solo, and 20 block assists. Hohl entered the season with a career 0.58 block-per-game average and has raised that mark to 0.67 through the first nine matches of the year.
Bring on the D-D-Defense Thus far in 2006, junior defensive specialist Miken Trogdon has posted double-digit dig totals in three matches (IPFW-11, ASU-14, Oakland-10) which is one match better than her total for the 2005 season. Trogdon has also contributed from the service stripe, posting 10 aces for the year, which mirrors her total from last season.
What A Difference A Year Makes Through the first nine matches of the 2005 season the Spartan offense held a meager .217 hitting percentage and had recorded just four sweeps. In 2006, MSU has tallied seven sweeps, ranks 13th in the nation with a .299 hitting percentage (Sept. 12 report) and leads Big Ten Conference opponents with 18.21 kills per game and 16.82 assists per game.
