Michigan
15-5, 2-5Big Ten
Michigan State
12-5, 3-4Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 30 | 30 | 30 | 3 |
| Michigan | 27 | 28 | 26 | 0 |
Wolverines Lose First Stage of State Pride to Spartans
10/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: Michigan lost to Michigan State 0-3 (27-30, 28-30, 26-30)
Records: U-M (15-5, 2-5 Big Ten), MSU (12-5, 3-4 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 13 -- vs. Iowa (Cliff Keen Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite stellar efforts from junior outside hitter Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) and freshman outside hitter Veronica Rood (Temperance, Mich./Bedford), the University of Michigan volleyball team was usurped by Michigan State in the first stage of the State Pride Series in a 3-0 (30-27, 30-28, 30-26) loss Wednesday night (Oct. 11) in Cliff Keen Arena.
The duo combined for 30 of Michigan's 55 kills in the match, including 11 of the team's 16 terminations in game one. Before a near-sellout crowd of 1,476, Bruzdzinski led the Wolverines with 17 kills to notch her 33rd straight double-digit kill performance, while Rood, seeing significant action for the first time in her career, finished with 13 kills, including six in the second period.
Countering the Wolverine attack on the outside was the MSU duo of Ashley Schatzle and Katie Johnson. Schatzle matched her career high with 24 kills, while Johnson added 13. Despite a solid Michigan defense, led by junior setter Stesha Selsky's (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Marymount) 11 digs and sophomore Beth Karpiak's (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) five blocks, the Spartans exited Cliff Keen Arena victorious.
Michigan falls to 15-5 overall (2-5 Big Ten), while Michigan State improves to 12-5 (3-4 Big Ten). The Spartans' win is their first against the Wolverines since 2004 and just their fourth victory in the last 11 meetings between the in-state rivals.
"I think I did pretty well out there for the first time," said Rood. "I was excited and a little nervous, but I just played volleyball."
The teams played three tight games, with game two going the Spartans' way after a 28-28 deadlock late in the period, and MSU overcoming a six-point, 20-14 lead in game three to rally for the win.
"The stats were very close in this one," said head coach Mark Rosen. "One or two points here or there and it's a different story. Michigan State made the plays when it was crunch time, and that was the difference."
Michigan will look to rebound against Iowa on Friday (Oct. 13) at 7 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena.
NOTES
• Highlights of tonight's match against Michigan State will be available on Michigan All-Access (subscription required) on Saturday (Oct. 14). Rates are set at $6.95/month and $49.95/year. For more information, visit Michigan All-Access and select "Women's Volleyball" from the "All Sports" menu, then go to "Highlights."
• With 17 kills against the Spartans, junior Katie Bruzdzinski moves into sole possession of seventh place on U-M's all-time kills list with 1,067 kills in her Maize and Blue career. The outside hitter needs seven more kills to move into a tie for sixth on the list.
• Bruzdzinski's six digs on the night moved her beyond the 700-dig milestone, putting her at 704 for her career.
• Junior Lyndsay Miller, in her 75th career start, recorded the 313th block of her career, taking sole possession of 10th place on the U-M all-time blocks list. Miller needs five more blocks to move into ninth place. Also, Miller's .368 attack percentage (8-1-19) set a season high for the outside hitter.
• Senior Erin Penn buried eight kills for Michigan, passing the 900-kill mark for her career. In her time at U-M, Penn has tallied 904 kills.
• Seeing her first significant game time for U-M, freshman Veronica Rood had a record-setting night, tallying career highs in kills (13), attempts (31), assists (3), digs (4), blocks (1) and points (13.5).
• Michigan lost to Michigan State for just the fourth time in 11 meetings, and the first time since 2004. Michigan State took its first step toward winning this year's State Pride Series -- a rivalry series Michigan has captured the last four years.
• The home attendance of 1,476 is the second highest of the season, and the largest crowd in Cliff Keen Arena this year. Michigan's home attendance ranked 36th in the country coming into tonight's match.
• The match will be shown on Comcast Local on Saturday (Oct. 14) at noon and on Tuesday (Oct. 17) at 4 p.m.
