The Spartan victory over Northern Illinois on Friday was more than just a traditional win.
In the sweep, Spartan head coach Chuck Erbe notched his 200th win as MSU volleyball coach. But Erbe was modest, saying there was a more important number on the night - one.
“If you’re able to hit great milestones in your life, it just says you have great players,” Erbe said. “You also have a great staff that helps recruit those players and you’re at a university that has a commitment to your sport.
“Really, it’s not something I even think about. I’m just trying to win matches.”
The No. 21 Spartans (8-2) won their match in easy fashion, defeating the Huskies 30-20, 30-25 and 30-19. The loss dropped Northern Illinois to 7-4.
Aside from its slide in game two, MSU was in command for nearly all the match.
MSU hit .352 for the match, mounting 53 kills in 105 swings. The Huskies couldn’t find any rhythm, hitting a dismal .103.
“When we were playing in system, everything was flowing together,” junior middle Jenny Rood said.
Four Spartans tallied double-digit kills on the evening. Junior outside hitter Sara Villwock, sophomore outside hitter Kim Schram and Rood tied for the match lead with 12 kills, and senior outside hitter Kyla Smith came in with 11.
No kill was more important for Smith than her fourth. With the Spartans looking to close out game one with a 26-25 lead, the senior took a set from junior setter Nikki Colson and laced her 500th career kill down the sideline.
The match began with a see-sawing game one. The Huskies cut the Spartan lead to one at 12-11, before MSU became dominant.
The Spartans reeled off 10 of the next 13 points to take an eight-point lead. That was enough to cruise to the 30-20 victory.
In one of their best game performances of the year, the Spartans hit .515 for the game, notching 19 kills and only two errors on 33 kill attempts.
Erbe said he scheduled only one match for the weekend so his team would be rested for the Big Ten season, which opens next week. The Spartans’ play at No. 8 Minnesota on Friday.
“We’re so pumped and ready to go against Minnesota,” Schram said. “Each game we’ve worked on something to prepare for this.
“I think we’re fired and ready to take on Minnesota, and right now, we’re more focused than ever.”
