BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - MSU volleyball defeated Indiana in three straight games Friday, completing a Big Ten sweep of the Hoosiers.
The Spartans displayed a solid all-around performance throughout the match (15-5, 15-9, 15-12). MSU outhit Indiana offensively - .319 to .185 - and outdug the Hoosiers defensively - 51 digs to 38.
“They played real well tonight,” MSU head coach Chuck Erbe said of his team. “I’m proud of them, and they should be proud of themselves.”
Attempting to avenge their earlier defeat, the Hoosiers had a strong opening in game one. Indiana took an early 2-1 lead and forced MSU to work for every side out.
After eight straight side outs and MSU leading 7-4, the Spartans’ went on a 6-0 run to blow the game open. MSU cruised to a 15-5 game one win.
Despite injuries to several players, which made practicing at full strength difficult all week, the Spartans’ communication was excellent.
“It’s just really come together lately,” junior outside hitter Maren Witzel said. “We just seem to be communicating really well and finding ways to get it done.”
Playing through foot and back pain, Witzel tied for the team lead in kills with 12 and led the team in hitting with .579.
Witzel said playing with injuries is difficult. However it is something that must be done as an athlete, she added.
“You just gotta work through it,” Witzel said. “You’ve got to play the best with what you have.”
In game two MSU continued to cruise, winning 15-9.
The Hoosiers again opened strong, forcing a four-all tie, but it was an 8-0 Spartan run that killed Indiana’s surge.
In game three, Indiana was determined to capture a victory, leading 8-4, but another Spartan rally tied the game at10. At that moment Erbe knew the match was over, he said.
“Once we tied it up, I could see the determination,” he said. “This was a huge win for us. We’ve been battling through a lot and everyone stepped up.”
Erbe said getting a win tonight removed some pressure heading into tomorrow’s match against No. 11 Penn State. He said MSU had fun on the court for the first time in a long time and that will be the biggest win of the weekend.
As for Penn State, Erbe said the Spartans will play with everything they have and just see what happens.
“It’s another day and another team,” he said. “We’ll see how we feel tomorrow.”
