Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
11-11, 4-7
Wisconsin
15-9, 5-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 26 | 23 | 27 | 21 | 15 | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 7 | 2 |
Volleyball Upsets No. 25 Wisconsin in Halloween Thriller
11/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 31, 2008
Coverage:
Mischelle | Carli
MADISON, Wis. -The 2008 Michigan State volleyball squad (12-10, 4-7 Big Ten) earned its second consecutive victory at the Wisconsin Field House after upsetting No. 25 Wisconsin, 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 27-25, 21-25, 15-7), Friday night. Freshman Kyndra Abron (Livonia, Mich.) turned in the sixth 20-kill effort of the season for the Spartans, and the first of her career, helping the Spartans earn back-to-back wins at Wisconsin for the first time in program history. The win snaps a five-match losing streak and avenges a 3-0 loss to Wisconsin earlier this season.
The win gave the Spartans their second victory over a top-25 program this season. Their first came against No. 21 Michigan earlier this season at the Breslin Center. It was also the seventh time in the last 10 matches that the Spartans have squared off against a ranked opponent. The Spartans were able to post season-highs in digs (84) and blocks (16) while freshman Becca Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill.) posted a career-high of her own with 16 digs. The 84 digs in the match are a program-best, tying the mark set back in 1990 against Iowa and is the most in the rally-scoring era.
"I thought that our team came into the match very focused tonight," head coach Cathy George said. "We did a great job of staying aggressive throughout the match and I thought our team played with a lot of energy."
The Badgers came out firing in the first set, jumping out to an 8-3 lead, but Abron and junior Vanessa King (Spring Lake, Mich.) would lead the Spartans on a 7-2 run, knotting the score at 10. From there, Abron and King would continue to dominate, helping MSU build an 18-16 advantage. Sophomore libero Allyson Karaba (Muskegon, Mich.) was able to post quality digs in key rallies, helping the Spartans build their advantage.
After a King kill, the Spartans found themselves on top, 25-24 and Karaba found herself serving for the match. Her top-spin jump-serve would glance off the net and find the floor, giving the Spartans the first set, 26-24. King paced the Spartans in the first set with six kills while hitting .556. Abron would add four kills while Karaba posted five digs. Freshman setter Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.) quietly had a great set as well, handing out 11 assists with two kills, three digs, a solo block and a block assist. The first set featured 10 ties and three lead-changes.
The second set continued in thrilling fashion, as neither team could build a substantial advantage. After the third kill of the match from Zlabis, the Spartans and Badgers would find themselves knotted at 23 late in the set, but kills from Wisconsin's Brittney Dolgner and Audra Jeffers would ultimately shut the door on MSU.
The third set proved to be one of the most competitive that the Spartans have played all season. Following the form of the first two sets, neither team was able to pull away, setting up another close finish. After an attack error from Abron, the Spartans found themselves trailing 25-24. But that is when Emro would take over. Tallying a kill and an ace, Emro helped the Spartans gain their first set point at 26-25. After an attacking error from Dolgner, the Spartans would earn the third-set victory, 27-25. Zlabis was a key reason for the Spartans third-set victory, tallying 10 digs in the third set alone. As a team, MSU posted 31 digs in the third set, holding the Badgers to a .091 hitting percentage. Abron also put up impressive numbers in the third set, tallying five kills. Emro added 11 more assists to her ledger.
The Spartans jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the fourth set, courtesy of three attack errors from Wisconsin. The Spartans looked to be en-route to a dominating fourth-set win, but the Badgers would battle back. Wisconsin would use a five-point run and a four-point run late in the set to pull ahead late, 21-20. The Badgers would go on to take five of the last six points to take the set, 25-21. Junior middle hitter Mischelle Nelson (Naperville, Ill.) led the Spartans with five kills in the fourth set. Karaba and defensive specialist Carli Weiler (Oak Lawn, Ill.) combined for nine digs while Emro passed out 13 helpers.
MSU would dominate the decisive fifth set throughout, hitting . 278 as a team, winning the set, 15-7. King led the team with two kills in the set. King finished the match with 14 kills while hitting .379 while Karaba finished with 23 digs. Emro handed out 48 helpers while adding five kills and nine digs
The Spartans will continue their road trip tomorrow night at Northwestern. Live stats and audio, with the voice of the Spartans John Kreger can be found at www.msuspartans.com.
