Michigan State University
Arizona State
Spartan Volleyball Suffers First Loss Of The Season
9/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Michigan State volleyball team (6-1) suffered its first loss of the season on Friday, falling 3-0 to Arizona State (6-1) in the opening match of the Sports Import Classic in Columbus, Ohio. The Sun Devils won by scores of 30-20, 30-28 and 30-17.
Outside hitter Jessica Hohl led the way for the Spartan offense with 10 kills, while setter Allison Ianni spread out 35 assists, adding four kills and seven digs. Outside hitter Ashley Schatzle posted nine kills, while Katie Johnson added seven kills, one block solo and one block assist for the Green and White. Defensively, Miken Trogdon tallied a team-high 14 digs, while Schatzle and Nicole Colaluca added six and 13 digs, respectively.
ASU won the battle at the net, posting 8.0 total blocks compared to just 3.0 by the Spartans, while MSU tallied 53 digs against 51 by the Sun Devil backcourt. State managed a season-low .134 hitting percentage, and tallied a season-high 14 service errors in the loss.
Arizona State led 15-13 midway through the opening set and scored five consecutive points to push the lead to 20-13. The Spartans scored six of the next 11 points to climb back in it, but ASU responded with five of the final six points to take game one, 30-20. Nelson paced the offense with four kills, while Colaluca posted eight digs in the Green and White backcourt.
Colaluca served five straight points for a 12-8 Spartan lead early in game two. Michigan State took its first timeout of the set at 20-17, and ASU scored five of the next eight points to pull within one at 23-22. Momentum stayed with the Sun Devils as they scored five of the final eight points to win game two, 30-28. Hohl, Johnson and Nelson each added four kills, while Ianni spread out 13 assists in game two.
ASU led 17-5 midway through game three, forcing the Spartans to use their final timeout of the set. The Spartans scored three of the next five points out of the break but were unable to overcome the deficit as ASU clinched the sweep with a 30-17 game-three victory. Hohl tallied four kills in the final set, while Heather McDaniel and Vanessa King each added one block assist.
Michigan State concludes play at the Sports Import Classic when it faces Tennessee Tech, Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
