St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Michigan St (Coca-Cola/MSU Volleyball Invitational)
Michigan State Tops St. John's Volleyball, 3-0
9/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2004
East Lansing, MI (September 4, 2004) - Junior Jackie Ahlers led the Red Storm with 12 kills, but was not enough, as the St. John's volleyball team lost to Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State 3-0 (30-19, 30-24, 30-24) at the Coca Cola/MSU Volleyball Invitational. The Red Storm fall to 1-2 (0-0 BIG EAST) and the Spartans (0-0 BIG TEN) improve to 2-0.
Game one saw five missed serves by the Spartans, keeping the score tied throughout the first 10 points. Freshman middle hitter Caitlin Rimgaila led the Red Storm attack with aggressive plays at the net against a big MSU block. At 18-11, a big dig by Alicia Carmignani set up an Ahlers kill to bring the Red Storm within six. Down only five, two straight blocks against MSU outside hitter Kim Schram cut the lead to only four points. The Spartans answered back goining a 9-3 run and with a kill by Megan Wallin, took the game 30-19.
St. John's effective defense at the net kept the ball alive and close in the first half of game two. Yana Ruban brought the Red Storm within two with a deep cross-court kill at 16-14. A Carmgnani ace began a 2-0 run for St. John's, which followed a kill by Ahlers who led the Red Storm with five in the game. Nicole Colaluca kept the ball alive with a sprawling dig to bring the Storm within three at 23-19. Down four, a Rimgaila kill set up a service error for MSU, who totaled seven in the game. Three consecutive MSU kills spread the point gap even further eventually took the game, 30-24.
A kill and a solo block by freshman Jaclyn Kapovich started off game three for the Red Storm, who trailed 4-2 early on. MSU went on a 5-1 run with kills by Wallin and Lanston against the St. John's block. The Red Storm responded with setter Lisa Tedder serving four straight points to bring the MSU lead to three. Two hitting errors and a missed serve for MSU brought St. John's to within one at 16-15 before the Spartans went on a 4-0 run. Two late kills from Carmignani brought the Red Storm close to a victory, but MSU pulled away with game three and the match 30-24.
The Red Storm return to Jenison Field House this evening at 6 p.m. when they will face Ohio (1-1) in their last match at Coca Cola/MSU Volleyball Invitational.
