Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
16-11, 4-11Big Ten
Indiana
15-14, 4-11Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 23 | 25 | 21 | 29 | 15 | 3 |
| Michigan State | 25 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 12 | 2 |
Volleyball Drops 3-2 Heartbreaker to Indiana
11/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 13, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball team (16-11, 4-11 Big Ten) fell in a five-set heartbreaker, 3-2, to Indiana on Friday, Nov. 19, at Jenison Field House. The loss marked the first time the Spartans have lost at home to the Hoosiers since 1991. It also marked the first season sweep since the same year. Pounding home and tying a career record with 20 kills was sophomore Kyndra Abron (Livonia, Mich.). Abron led all attackers for both teams with her kill total.
The first set saw the Spartans fall behind early, 5-1. MSU, however, rallied back to tie the match at nine. After taking its first lead of the match, at 14-12, Michigan State forced the Hoosiers to call their first timeout. The Spartans were able to grow the lead to three, making it a 21-18 set. Indiana tied the match for the last time at 21, before MSU closed out the set, 25-23. Sophomore Becca Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill.) led the team with her five kills in the first set.
Looking to keep its early momentum, Michigan State struck early in the second set, leading 5-3. However, Indiana stormed back to take a 11-8 lead, which forced a Spartan timeout. MSU rallied back to tie the match at 16, before Indiana took three of the last four points, winning the second set 25-21. Abron led the team with her six kills while also hitting .500.
Following the intermission, MSU once again got out early, 7-5. The Spartans maintained the two-point advantage over the Hoosiers as they called a timeout with the score 18-16. Michigan State took five of seven points to finish the third set, 25-21. Abron once again tallied a team-high six kills in the set.
Looking to potentially close out the match, the Spartans trailed 10-8 early in the fourth set. After the lead grew to three, 15-12, MSU called its first timeout. However, Michigan State rallied back to tie the match at 24 apiece. The first MSU lead occurred when the score was 27-26. The Hoosiers took the final three points to end the third set, 29-27. A set-high seven kills by Abron was tops for both teams.
In the fifth and final set, Michigan State fell behind early, 4-1. However, the Spartans were able to tie the match at seven, and eventually lead 8-7. After three straight Indiana points, MSU called a timeout with the score 10-8. The Hoosiers maintained command of the set as it closed out the match, winning the fifth set 15-12. Sophomore Natalie Emro led all with her .667 hitting percentage on two kills.
Quarterbacking the Spartan effort was Emro with her second double-double of the season, sixth of her career, tallying a career-high 65 assists along with 15 digs. Tallying the 10th double-double of her career, and seventh of the season, was Zlabis, who posted career-high 19 kills with 16 digs. Redshirt sophomore Jenilee Rathje (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) tallied 19 kills against the Hoosiers, while Junior Allyson Karaba (Muskegon, Mich.) tallied a team-high 18 digs. Both senior Vanessa King (Spring Lake, Mich.) and Emro each tallied five blocks in the effort.
MSU is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 14, when it battles Purdue at 6:30 p.m. in Jension Field House. The match will be streamed live on BigTenNetwork.com.
