Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
2-4, 14-4
Iowa
2-4, 10-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 14 | 15 | 19 | 0 |
| Iowa | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
No. 18 Volleyball Downed by Iowa, 3-0
10/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 11, 2009
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The No. 18 Michigan State volleyball team (14-4, 2-4) fell, 3-0, to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. With the loss, MSU is now 0-4 in Big Ten road matches this season. The Hawkeyes are now 10-8 on the season, and 2-4 in conference matches. Sophomore Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.) led the Spartans with her .500 attack percentage, on seven kills.
MSU fell behind early in the first set, 8-1, and was never able to get back into the set. Michigan State pulled within six, when the score was 16-10. However, the Spartans were only able to score four more points in the set, before the Hawkeyes earned the 25-14 first set win.
The Spartans saw themselves trailing in the second set 10-5 to Iowa, before MSU called its first timeout of the set. The Hawkeyes slowly began pulling away from Michigan State as they made it 20-12, with MSU calling its final timeout. Iowa closed out the match by taking the last five of eight points scored, winning the second set, 25-15.
The third set saw the Spartans hold on until the very end of the set. Iowa began with a slight 5-4 lead to begin the set. However, after trading service points with one another, MSU found itself tied with the Hawkeyes for the first time in the match at 12. Iowa then responded by taking three straight points, which forced a Green and White timeout with the score 15-12. Following the timeout, the Spartans responded with a 6-2 rally to make the set 18-17 in favor of Michigan State. Iowa stormed back after trailing for the first time in the match to take the third set 25-19.
Emro also led the Spartans with 19 digs on the day. Senior Mischelle Nelson (Naperville, Ill.) paced the MSU defense with three blocks, while Emro added two. Sophomores Becca Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill.) and Carli Weiler (Oak Lawn, Ill.) each added nine digs. Zlabis led all Spartans with eight kills. Making her first career start donning the Green and White was freshman Cheyenne VanDerSteen (Grand Ledge, Mich.), who tallied eight digs in the Spartan effort.
The Spartans return home on Friday, Oct. 16, for a 6:30 p.m. match against Ohio State.
