Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
11-0
Clemson
8-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 25 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 15 | 3 |
| Clemson | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 12 | 2 |
No. 17 Volleyball Holds Off Clemson in Five
9/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 18, 2009
CLEMSON, S.C. - The No. 17 Michigan State volleyball team (11-0) opened play at the Clemson Classic with a match against Furman and also the host Tigers. Beginning the day with an afternoon match against the Paladins, MSU downed Furman, 3-0. The Spartans returned to action in the evening with a match against Clemson. The Green and White held off a late surge from the Tigers, downing them in five sets, 3-2. Sophomore Becca Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill.) led all Spartans with two double-digit kill efforts on the day, 11 against Furman and 15 against Clemson.
"I think we were definitely challenged tonight against a very athletic Clemson team," said head coach Cathy George. "We played up and down tonight and I thought were not very consistent, and it was prominent in the scores. I don't think we were able to find a rhythm, but we were able to battle through it, and pull out the tough victory."
In the first set against Furman, the Spartans came out strong as they jumped out to an early 10-2 lead. MSU continued their strong first set presence as they earned a 25-17 win. In the second set, the Green and White fell behind early, 5-2, after two straight Furman service aces. However, the Spartans went on an 8-3 run, making it a 10-8 set, in favor of MSU. After trading several points with Furman, Michigan State was finally able to break away in the second set, earning a 25-21 win. The third set began similar to the first for MSU, as they found themselves in an early 13-3 lead. The Spartans never let off of the gas, as they finished the match with a 25-12 third set win.
MSU saw two Spartans tally double-digit kills in their win over Furman as Zlabis recorded 11 and junior Megan Schatzle (Monroe, Mich.) recorded another 10 kills for the Spartan offense. Sophomore Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.) contributed with 34 assists, setting the Spartan attack. Junior Allyson Karaba (Muskegon, Mich.) anchored the back row as she recorded 13 digs for the Spartan defense. Redshirt sophomore Jenilee Rathje (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) recorded three blocks for MSU as well.
In the night cap against Clemson, MSU continued its success against the Tigers, jumping out just as it had against Furman. However, Clemson battled back, after finding itself down, 10-4, recording five unanswered points to pull within one point. MSU held off the surge from the Tigers, taking the first set, 25-23. Clemson used the momentum gained in the first set as it opened the second set with an early 12-7 lead. The Tigers never trailed as they earned a second set win, 25-22. The Spartans responded in the third set by establishing an early 16-9 advantage. However, Clemson rallied to pull within one when the score was 24-23 in favor of MSU. But, after a Green and White timeout, Michigan State closed out the set with 25-23 win. As the fourth set began, Clemson showed its resilience by running out to an early 9-4 lead. MSU attempted to respond to every Tiger kill, however, Clemson proved to be too much for the Spartans as they fell in the fourth set, 22-25. The fifth set began with both teams trading points with one another, as they were tied at two. MSU came out with five consecutive points before Clemson was forced to call its first timeout with the score 7-2 in favor of the Spartans. After trading points once more, Clemson called its third timeout of the set as MSU held the 10-7 lead. The Tigers then responded by earning the next four points of the set, and pull ahead by one, 11-10. Michigan State responded with three points, to gain the 13-11 edge. Clemson was able to score one more in the set before the Green and White closed out the match with a 15-12 fifth-set win.
MSU once again saw contributions from Zlabis, who tallied her second double-double of the season, as she posted 15 kills along with 14 digs. Senior Vanessa King (Spring Lake, Mich.) led the Spartan blockers as she was in on five of the Spartans' seven blocks. Rathje and Schatzle also recorded double-digit kills for the Spartan attack, with Rathje recording 16 while Schatzle added 17. Emro dished out another 53 assists for the Spartan attackers against the Tigers. Allyson Karaba led MSU with 26 digs, while sophomore Carli Weiler (Oak Lawn, Ill.) chipped in with 10.
"Jenilee (Rathje) is having a great tournament for us so far, as she has had two stellar games. Becca (Zlabis) has also really stepped up for us, and has done some wonderful things for us closing out the non-conference schedule. We definitely look forward to getting back out on the court tomorrow, and hope to head into conference play with a win."
The Spartans conclude non-conference action tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 19, as they close out action at the Clemson Classic with a 12 p.m. match against Presbyterian.
