University of Minnesota Athletics
#7 MINNESOTA VOLLEYBALL RALLIES TO DEFEAT #20 MICHIGAN STATE
10/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Minnesota set a season high with 13 service aces and forced 27 service errors from Michigan State. Lindsey Berg served a Minnesota season-high six aces, while Lisa Axel tied her career high with four aces. Nicole Branagh added 15 kills and led the Gophers with 20 digs.
The first game saw a flurry of sideouts at the beginning at the match. Michigan State gave up four of the first six points, but the Spartans went on a 13-2 run to end the game. The Gophers scored two points in their final 22 serves of the game. Jenny Rood of Michigan State led both sides with eight kills in the opening frame. Minnesota hit .065 in the first game, compared to Michigan State's .254 hitting percentage.
Minnesota's Lisa Axel served three aces in an eight-point run to begin the second game, as the Gophers jumped out to a 9-0 lead. Michigan State scored the next five points to shave the Minnesota advantage to 9-5, but could get no closer as the Gophers won the second game, 15-8. Minnesota had five aces in the second game, led by Axel's three aces. Branagh had four kills to lead the Minnesota offense in the second game.
The third game featured three ties, the last occuring at 7-7. Minnesota scored the next three points and did not trail for the remainder of the game. Hagen had her best game of the match, blasting eight kills in 11 attempts for a .727 hitting percentage. Hagen also had a part of three blocks as Minnesota outblocked Michigan State 6-1 in the third game.
Minnesota dominated the fourth game, scoring 14 of the game's first 15 points en route to a 15-4 win. Michigan State did not serve well in the fourth game, posting nine service errors and no service aces. Berg had three of six aces in the final game, and Lisa Aschenbrenner came alive with six kills to lead the Gopher offense.
The Gophers complete their two-match road trip in the state of Michigan on Saturday at Michigan, beginning at 6 p.m. (CDT).
BIG TEN STANDINGS Minnesota 8-1 19-1 Wisconsin 8-1 18-2 Ohio State 7-2 17-2 Penn State 7-3 18-4 Michigan State 5-4 12-6 Iowa 5-4 9-8 Michigan 3-6 13-7 Indiana 3-6 12-7 Illinois 1-7 10-9 Northwestern 1-7 4-14 Purdue 1-8 9-12 Friday's Matches Minnesota d. Michigan State, 3-1 (6-15, 15-8, 15-11, 15-4) Iowa d. Michigan, 3-2 (10-15, 12-15, 15-6, 16-14, 15-13) Penn State d. Ohio State, 3-2 (15-5, 10-15, 16-14, 7-15, 15-9) Wisconsin d. Purdue, 3-0 (15-5, 15-3, 15-6) Northwestern at Illinois, late Saturday's Matches Minnesota at Michigan, 6 Penn State at Indiana, 7 Iowa at Michigan State, 7 Northwestern at Purdue, 7 Wisconsin at Illinois, 7
