Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
12-2, 0-2Big Ten
Indiana
12-4, 1-1Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 19 | 25 | 23 | 18 | 1 |
| Indiana | 25 | 18 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
No. 16 Volleyball Struggles Against Indiana, Falls 3-1
9/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 26, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The No. 16 Michigan State volleyball team (12-2, 0-2) fell, 3-1, to Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 26, at University Gym. Pacing the Spartans with her third double-double of the year was sophomore Becca Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill.), tallying 12 kills along with 10 digs. Zlabis also led the team with a .333 attack percentage.
Sophomore Kyndra Abron (Livonia, Mich.) began the first set with a thunderous kill, but IU responded with two points of its own. MSU rallied to tie the set at three, before the Hoosiers went on a 4-1 rally and take a 7-4 lead. The Spartans would respond with a 4-0 rally themselves, taking a 8-7 lead. Indiana would find itself with a 10-9 lead after taking three of the next four points. However, MSU would regain the lead after going on a 4-1 rally, which ended on a Abron block, bringing the score to 13-11. With the set tied at 16, the Hoosiers would go on to take the next two points, causing an MSU timeout. Indiana would take the next five points before MSU tallied its next point. The Hoosiers scored one more point before another MSU timeout was called with the score 22-17. IU wound up taking the first set by a score of 25-19.
To begin the second set, the Hoosiers picked up where they left off in the second set, getting off to a 2-0 start. However, MSU would take the next four of six points, tying the game at four apiece. After trading the next five services with one another, MSU went on a 6-1 run to take a 12-8 lead. The two schools would once again go on to trade service with one another, until a block by Abron forced Indiana to call a timeout with the score 15-11. Following the timeout, MSU would respond with another block, before IU scored the next two points, making it a 16-13 set. The Spartans followed up with a 5-2 rally, forcing the Hoosiers to call their second timeout. The Spartans closed out the set winning the final two points and earning the 25-18 second set win.
The Spartans opened the third set on an early 5-3 run, before Indiana responded with two points, tying the set at five. The Hoosiers would trade the next several points with MSU, bring both teams to a score of nine. After an Indiana service ace with the score 11-9, MSU called its first timeout of the set. MSU would rally to tie at 15, capped by a Green and White kill. After once again falling behind, the Spartans rallied to tie the score at 21. Following a kill by junior Megan Schatzle (Monroe, Mich.), IU called a timeout with MSU ahead 22-21. Indiana took the next four out of five points, edging the Spartans in the third set, 25-23.
In the final set, IU got out early on the Spartans, leading 5-0, before the Spartans responded with two points of their own. Following two more IU unanswered points, MSU called its first timeout of the set with the score 7-2. Following the timeout, MSU responded by taking the next six of seven points. IU then answered with five straight points, which caused the Spartans to call their second time out, with the score 13-8. The two teams would then go on to trade points, as the score became 17-12. The Hoosiers would bring the score to 21-12, after scoring four straight points. MSU would respond by taking the next three points, causing Indiana to call a timeout with the score 21-15. IU wound up taking four of the next seven points score and take the final set, 25-18.
Tallying 11 kills on the night was Schatzle, while redshirt sophomore Jenilee Rathje (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) and Abron each tallied 10. Sophomore Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.) led the team with 38 assists, while junior Allyson Karaba (Muskegon, Mich.) posted a team-high 16 digs.
Michigan State returns to East Lansing for its home-conference opener on Friday, Oct. 2 against No. 15 Illinois at 6:30 p.m.
