Sept. 22, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern volleyball team left Michigan State stunned after handing them a 3-0 (30-24, 32-30, 30-20) loss Saturday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Wildcats (5-3, 2-0) snapped a 13-match losing streak to MSU (7-2, 0-2) and posted two consecutive Big Ten wins on their home court for the first time since 1998.
Michigan State was hurt by a total of 17 service errors, while the 'Cats had eight service aces, no blocking errors and outdug their opponents 38 to 29.
Sophomore middle blocker Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) finally found her niche in this match, hitting .412 with a match-high 11 kills and 7 total blocks. Junior middle blocker Sarah Ballog (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita) lit up the floor with 9 kills, hitting .538.
The Spartans had come into this weekend's action undefeated before falling to No. 9 Wisconsin Friday night. Senior outside hitter Erin Harley was held to a .071 hitting percentage with 10 kills.
"We're a different team now," Northwestern head coach Keylor Chan said after the match. "We feel we can compete with any team. Passing, blocking and serving are the keys to performing well, and tonight we blocked well and served well."
In 1994, Northwestern also opened the season by defeating Michigan and Michigan State at home. That season the 'Cats ended up 12-20 and 3-17 in the Big Ten under head coach Margie Fitzpatrick.
Northwestern travels next weekend to matches at Illinois and Indiana.