Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
15-16, 7-13Big Ten
Northwestern
18-12, 8-11Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 25 | 14 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Northwestern | 23 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 2 |
Volleyball Ends Season with Five Set Win over Northwestern
11/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 27, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Michigan State volleyball team (15-16, 7-13 Big Ten) concluded its 2010 season with a 3-2 win over Northwestern (18-12, 8-11 Big Ten) on Saturday, Nov. 26 in Evanston, Ill. The Green and White finishes the season by winning four of its last six matches. Senior Megan Schatzle (Monroe, Mich.), in her final match as a Spartan, recorded her fourth-consecutive double-double with 19 kills and 10 digs.
MSU came out early in the match, holding an early 5-2 lead over the Wildcats in set one. A 9-4 run in favor of NU put it out in front, 11-9. The Spartans responded by taking the next five points to regain the lead at 14-11. Michigan State's lead became seven with the score 20-13. Northwestern looked to get back into the set by rattling off eight of the next 11 points to tie the set at 23. The Green and White claimed the final two points to close out the first set with a 25-23 win. Junior Becca Zlabis (Wheaton, Ill.) was the top attacker for MSU with four kills. Junior Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.) was the top ball distributor with seven assists, while Zlabis and fellow junior Carli Weiler (Oak Lawn, Ill.) each had seven digs. Red-shirt junior Jenilee Rathje (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) and junior Kyndra Abron (Livonia, Mich.) recorded three blocks apiece.
The Wildcats controlled set two from the first serve. Northwestern gained an early 4-2 lead over the Spartans before pushing the lead to six at 14-8. The NU lead became eight at 20-12 after taking six of the next 10 points. Northwestern finally closed out the set by taking five of the final seven points to earn the 25-14 win. Abron was the top attacker in the set for MSU with three kills. Weiler had five digs, while freshman Kristen Kelsay (Wheaton, Ill.) had five assists.
The Spartans looked to get ahead following the intermission; however Northwestern carried its momentum into set three by leading 4-2 early. Michigan State rattled off three of the next four to tie the set up at five. An 8-2 run in favor of the Wildcats gave them the 13-7 lead over MSU. The Green and White saw the deficit become nine at 16-7 before finally getting back within two at 20-18. The Spartans remained within two at 23-21 until Northwestern took two of the final three to end the set at 25-22. Schatzle led MSU in set three with eight kills. Schatzle also tied Zlabis with a team-best five digs. Emro recorded a team-high six assists.
Trailing 2-1, MSU was unable to gain the lead at the opening moments of set four as it was tied at three with Northwestern. The Spartans were finally able to gain a little separation at 5-4 before a 7-1 run gave them a cushion of seven points. The Green and White pushed its lead to nine at 17-8 before doubling up the Wildcats at 22-11. Michigan State finally closed out set four with the 25-17 win. Zlabis led MSU with four kills, while Weiler had eight digs. Both Kelsay and Emro had four assists each.
Michigan State came out in set five looking to finish the season on a high note. The Spartans got out early on Northwestern 7-2. The lead of five was maintained at 10-5 before it was pushed to six at 13-7. MSU gained its largest lead of the set when it concluded the match at 15-8. Schatzle once again was the top offensive force for the Spartans with four kills. Zlabis and Weiler each had three digs, while Kelsay and Emro each had three assists.
Joining Schatzle with her eighth double-double of the season was Zlabis with 11 kills and 20 digs. Tallying a team-high 26 digs, along with a team-best two aces, was Weiler. Emro led MSU with 22 assists, while Kelsay joined in double-digit figures with 19 assists. Abron tallied a team-best six blocks and was joined by red-shirt freshman Alexis Mathews (Detroit, Mich.) at the net with her five blocks. Rathje became the 17th Spartan all-time to amass 1,000 kills in a career with her eight kills.
