Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
11-11, 3-8
Wisconsin
14-8, 3-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 28 | 20 | 16 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 30 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Volleyball Topped by Wisconsin on the Road, 3-0
10/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2010
MADISON, Wis. - The Michigan State volleyball team (11-11, 3-8) opened the last leg of its four-match road trip with a 3-0 loss to Wisconsin (14-8, 3-8) on Friday, Oct. 29. Red-shirt junior Jenilee Rathje (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) led all Spartans with her 10th double-digit kill tally of the year when she recorded 10 kills.
The Spartans opened the match slow in the first set as they trailed Wisconsin, 5-0. The Badgers pushed their lead to six at 7-1 before the Green and White managed to pull within four at 8-4. UW once again went on the offense as it held a seven point lead at 12-5. MSU remained in the match as it clawed back within four points at 16-12. Wisconsin's lead once again became six at 20-14 before the Spartans made it five at 21-16. MSU then rattled off a 6-1 run to tie the set at 22 points each. Michigan State remained strong as it then took the 23-22 lead, however UW would tie the set back up at 23. MSU forced its first of four set points at 24-23 before once again being forced into a tie. As the Spartans would attempt to win the set, UW would keep them in check and tie the set back up the following point. With the set at 28-28, the Badgers finally were able to close out the set, taking the final two points. Rathje led the Spartans in the first set with five kills.
After being tied early in set two at threem four and five points apiece, MSU came out with a solid 9-5 lead. The Green and White maintained its largest lead of the set of six points with the score 15-9. Wisconsin, however, responded with five straight points to make it 15-14. The Spartans got the lead back up to two at 18-16, before UW got two straight to tie the set at 18 points. The Badger remained in control of the set as they continued their offensive surge to make the set 21-18 and eventually take set two by a score of 25-20. Junior Kyndra Abron (Livonia, Mich.) led the team in set two with four kills.
Following intermission, Wisconsin started out in control of the match early on, leading MSU 9-4. Three straight Spartan points pulled the Green and White within two at 9-7. UW, however, began to regain the offensive momentum as the third set lead grew to five, 15-10. Wisconsin pushed its lead to eight with the score becoming 20-12. The Badgers kept their offensive rolling as they closed out the third and final set, 25-16. Rathje was joined by junior Becca Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill.) with three kills in the final set.
Senior Allyson Karaba (Muskegon, Mich.) was a stable force for the Spartan defense with her 21 digs on the night, her 14th double-digit tally of the season. Recording double-digit assist marks was junior Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.) and freshman Kristen Kelsay (Wheaton, Ill.). Emro tallied 21 assists, while Kelsay added 17.
The Spartans return to action tomorrow (Oct. 30) when they travel to Champaign, Ill. for an 8 p.m. ET match against Illinois.
