Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
13-16, 5-13Big Ten
Purdue
19-10, 10-8Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 22 | 25 | 27 | 13 | 15 | 3 |
| Michigan State | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 8 | 2 |
Volleyball Falls in Heartbreaker to Purdue, 3-2
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Looking to continue the magic from its win the night before, the Michigan State volleyball team (13-16, 5-13 Big Ten) fell in a tough 3-2 contest to Purdue (19-10, 10-8 Big Ten) on Saturday, Nov. 20 in Jenison Field House. Freshman Kristen Kelsay (Wheaton, Ill.) and senior Megan Schatzle (Monroe, Mich.) each recorded their second-straight double-doubles of the weekend with 24 assists and 10 digs, and 16 kills and 11 digs, respectively.
After falling in an early 5-0 deficit to Purdue in the first, MSU remained down by five at 9-4 as it called its first timeout of the match. Four of the next five went in favor of the Spartans to pull them within two at 10-8. After Purdue once again pushed its lead to four at 12-8, the Green and White got within one at 13-12 just as the Boilermakers called at timeout. Michigan State took the next four points to lead Purdue 14-13 for the first time in the set. A 4-1 for Purdue helped it regain the lead at 17-15; however the Spartans took the next three to regain an 18-17 lead. The Spartans pushed the lead to two as the Boilermakers called a timeout with it 20-18. After Purdue got back within one at 22-21, MSU called a timeout to end the Boilermaker surge. The Green and White finally closed out the set at 25-22. Schatzle was joined by red-shirt junior Jenilee Rathje (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) and junior Kyndra Abron (Livonia, Mich.) with two kills each in the set. Junior Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.) led the team with a team-best three assists, while Rathje and Schatzle were joined by red-shirt freshman Alexis Mathews (Detroit, Mich.) with two blocks. Junior Carli Weiler (Oak Lawn, Ill.) anchored the defense for MSU with eight digs.
Set two opened with Michigan State once again trailing early to the Boilermakers, 2-0. After the Spartans tied the set up at two, Purdue managed to get two more to once again hold a two-point advantage at 4-2. The Spartans, however, responded with six straight to lead Purdue 8-4, causing the Boilermakers to call a timeout. Following the break, Purdue took four straight to force MSU into a timeout with the set tied at eight. The Boilermaker lead became three at 17-14 as Michigan State called its second timeout of the set. A 4-1 run in favor of the Spartans tied the set back up at 18, the fifth tie of the set. Purdue remained poised, closing out set two 25-20. Schatzle was joined by junior Becca Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill.) with three set kills. Kelsay led the team with five assists, while she was joined by Schatzle with a team-high three digs. Mathews once again led the team with two blocks for the set.
Following the intermission, neither team was able to gain control of the set as they both held a one point lead at several points before MSU took the first two point lead at 10-8. After the lead became three at 14-11, Purdue called its first timeout of the set. The lead remained unchanged at 17-14 until MSU called its first timeout at 19-18. Two points later with the Boilermakers in the lead at 20-19, the Green and White called its second timeout. Michigan State would take the next point to tie the set at 20, before Purdue got three of the next four to lead 23-21. The Spartans battled back to tie the set back up at 23, just as the Boilermakers called their second timeout. Purdue had three set points before they finally finished off the Spartans at 27-25. Schatzle led all attackers in the set with seven kills. Kelsay dished out nine assists and Weiler reeled in four digs. Mathews had three blocks for the Spartans defense at the net.
Neither team separated itself early in set four until after being tied at six, the Spartans exploded on a 10-2 run to force Purdue to burn both of its timeouts before the score reached 16-8. Michigan State's lead was pushed to 11 points at 21-10, and then to 12 points at 23-11. MSU finally put the Boilermakers away at 25-13. Abron was the top offensive force for MSU with four kills, while Kelsay led the team once again with five assists. Weiler had a team-best four digs and Mathews led all players with three blocks.
The Spartans were unable to maintain their momentum in the fifth set as they dropped the first three points of the set. MSU finally tied the set up at four, just as the Boilermakers, had three straight to get the Spartans to call a timeout at 7-4. Michigan State burned its second timeout of the set after the score reached 9-5. With the Green and White unable to get back within striking distance, Purdue closed out the set by a score of 15-8. Schatzle, Abron and Mathews each had two kills. Kelsay had three assists and was joined by Rathje with two digs. Abron and Mathews also each had a block.
Abron joined Schatzle in double-digit kill figures with 11. Emro also had double-digit assists figures with 16. Mathews was the top player at the net for all teams with 11 total blocks. Abron also had six blocks, with both Rathje and Emro had four. Aside from leading the team in kills, Schatzle also lead the team with two service aces, while she was joined by Kelsay and Weiler's 19 for double-digit dig figures.
The Spartans host Michigan on Wednesday, Nov. 24 for their final home contest of the 2010 season. Action is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. inside the Breslin Center. MSU will conclude its year two days later when it travels to Northwestern on Friday, Nov. 26.
