Michigan
10-8, 6-5Big Ten
Michigan State
12-6, 5-6Big Ten
Wolverines Fall at Michigan State, Split Season Series
10/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site:Â East Lansing, Mich. (Jenison Field House)
Result:Â Michigan State 3, Michigan 1 (30-18, 30-15, 19-30, 30-22)
Records:Â U-M (10-8, 6-5 Big Ten), MSU (12-6, 5-6 Big Ten)
Next U-M Match:Â Saturday, Oct. 27 -- vs. Purdue (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team struggled with its passing and then found tough blocking at the net by the Michigan State on each attack attempt Wednesday night (Oct. 24). Taken out of their game, the Wolverines fell to the Spartans 3-1 (30-18, 30-15, 19-30, 30-22) in front of 1,384 fans at a noisy Jenison Field House. The loss prevented Michigan from capturing the annual State Pride Series for the second year in a row.
Game one started out with three attack errors and led to a quick 5-0 lead for Michigan State. A kill by Jennifer Gandolph (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) put the Wolverines on the board, but they found themselves trailing 11-2 after three additional errors, including an overpass that was hit directly into the net. A small rally was put together using kills by Nicole Poquette (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) on her first two attempts and a service ace by Katrina Lehman (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Marian HS) and the gap closed to 13-6. Poor passes helped take middle blocker Erin Moore (Tiffin, Ohio, Columbian HS) out of the Wolverine offense, keeping her from recording her first kill of the match until she made the score 15-10. From there, Michigan fell behind 21-11 and was unable to put together any type of rally before eventually falling 30-18.
Game two started much the same. However, after falling behind 4-1, Michigan (10-8, 6-5 Big Ten) fought back and took its first lead of the night at 5-4. However, a service rotation by the Spartans' Emily Engel which included three service aces put MSU ahead 13-7 and shut the door on the Wolverines. Michigan continued to fall behind and, after three consecutive attack errors, trailed 23-13. Michigan State won the game 30-15 after another string of three attack errors by the Wolverines.
After the intermission, the Wolverines came out with better passing and more precise sets in the third game. The return of Moore to the Wolverines offense didn't hurt either. After losing the first point for the third consecutive game, Michigan roared to a 15-9 lead on the strength of five kills by Moore, more than she had in the first two games combined. Michigan held the lead by mixing up the offense and including the outside hitters, with Gandolph and Poquette each tallying two kills as the score advanced to 22-15. A service error by the Spartans at 26-18 gave U-M the momentum to put the game away. Three big defensive stands, including two point-saving digs by Moore, helped move the game to 27-18 before the Wolverines closed out the game with two blocks to win the game 30-19.
After the blitzing in game three, Michigan State (12-6, 5-6 Big Ten) took a 3-1 lead early in game four. The Wolverines were able to stay in the game, partly thanks to four service errors my the Spartans, and tied the game at 8-8. MSU took the lead back and kept it between one and three points before taking it to five points at 25-20. However, kills by Moore and Gandolph brought the Wolverines back to 25-22.
With the tide shifting in their favor, the Wolverines failed to close the margin when a back row attack went into the net and gave MSU a 26-22 lead. Two points later, the Spartans' Diana Steplyk closed out the match with two consecutive service aces to give Michigan State a 30-22 victory.
Moore led the Wolverines with a match-high 15 kills and added 12 digs, while Lehman had a team-high five blocks and Gandolph led all players with 13 digs.
The Wolverines return home to host Purdue at 7 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 27). The Boilermakers will be making their way to Cliff Keen Arena following a Friday night (Oct. 26) match at Michigan State.
NOTES
• Michigan State retained the State of Michigan flag, which goes to the winner of the annual State Pride Series. Because of a series split, the Spartans earned the flag because they won five games to Michigan's four in the two matches.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Mark Rosen
On the match ... "I have to give Michigan State a lot of credit. They did everything they wanted to do in the first two games. They took us out of our rhythm and stayed in theirs. We didn't play well, but they had a lot to do with that. Tonight we had one option, and she didn't play well. That led to Michigan State picking up on what we had left. I am proud of how our athletes responded in game three. They really showed some fight in that game and game four, but it wasn't enough."
