Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
14-8, 2-8Big Ten
Minnesota
16-5, 7-2Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 14 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 9 | 2 |
| Minnesota | 25 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
Volleyball Drops, 3-2, Heartbreaker to No. 9 Minnesota
10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 23, 2009
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Michigan State volleyball team (14-8, 2-8) fell, 3-2, to No. 9 Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 23, at the Minnesota Sports Pavilion. The Gophers are now 16-5 overall, and 7-2 in the conference. Leading all Spartans with her 16 kills was sophomore Becca Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill.). Zlabis also tallied her sixth double-double of the year, adding 13 digs to the MSU effort.
The Spartans found themselves leading in the first set 3-1, however, the Gophers stormed back to pull within one, 8-7. Minnesota used the momentum gained to pull ahead of MSU 12-9, with the Spartans calling a timeout. The Gophers ended up taking the first set, 25-14. Junior Megan Schatzle (Monroe, Mich.) led the Spartan attack in the first set with a .400 attack percentage on three kills.
MSU once again got out to the early lead, 8-2, after scoring six straight points. The Gophers began storming back, pulling within two, making the score, 11-9. Michigan State got out to a 20-13 lead, before Minnesota called its first timeout. The Spartans won the second set, 25-19, making it a 1-1 match heading into intermission. Sophomore Kyndra Abron (Livonia, Mich.) posted a .500 hitting percentage while leading all attackers with her eight kills in the set.
Michigan State continued its second set momentum in the third set. MSU got out early on Minnesota once again, but after each team trading service with one another, each set became tied at 16. The Spartans than began to slowly pull away from the Gophers, leading 21-18. MSU got the best of the Gophers in the third, winning 25-21. Anchoring the attack for the Spartans was Schatzle, posting four kills.
The fourth set saw a much more powerful Gopher team, gaining an early 12-2 lead over MSU. Minnesota extended their lead by 13 over the Spartans, leading 16-3. Michigan State pulled within nine of the Gophers, making it a 20-11, the Gophers would go on to win the fourth set, 25-17.
In the final set of the night, MSU fell behind early, 6-4. The Spartans were able to rally and tie the match at seven. However, the Gophers closed out the final set on an 8-2 run to take it, 15-9.
Abron tallied the second highest kills for the Spartans with 13. Sophomore Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.) quarterbacked the MSU team with her 44 assists. Emro also led all with her two service aces on the night. Junior Allyson Karaba (Muskegon, Mich.) anchored the defense with 28 digs. Senior Vanessa King (Spring Lake, Mich.) tallied a team-high eight blocks.
Michigan State will return to action at home next Friday, Oct. 30, for a match against Iowa, slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. The following night MSU will battle Wisconsin with a match also scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
