Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
8-4, 0-1
Minnesota
11-2, 1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Michigan State | 17 | 23 | 21 | 0 |
Volleyball Falls to No. 14 Minnesota, 3-0
9/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 24, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State volleyball team (8-4, 0-1) opened Big Ten conference action on Friday, Sept. 24 with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-21) loss to No. 14 Minnesota. The match was the first of two matches to be held inside the Breslin Center this weekend for the Spartans. Red-shirt junior Jenilee Rathje (Mount Pleasant Mich.) led all players on the night with 13 kills, while hitting .571.
MSU got out early on the Golden Gophers in set one, 3-1, and maintained the two point lead at 5-3. Minnesota managed to tie the set up at nine, before gaining the outright 11-9 lead. The Spartans called a timeout after UM brought its lead to 15-11. MSU tried to rally, but were unable to bounce back as it fell behind 21-14 as another Spartan timeout was called. Minnesota closed out the first by a score of 25-17. Rathje led MSU in the set with four kills and two blocks.
Set two opened up closer for the two teams as no team was able to take a large lead with the score 9-9. That is when the Spartans created some separation as they took six of nine points, making the score 15-11, as UM called a timeout. Following the break, the Golden Gophers responded with a 7-2 rally to gain the 18-17 lead, as the Spartans called a timeout. The Spartans would tie the set up once more, before UM took set two, 25-23. Senior Megan Schatzle (Monroe, Mich.) led all players in set two with five kills, hitting .833.
Following intermission, the set began tied at six. The Golden Gophers gained an 8-6 lead before the Spartans would tie the set up at nine. The Green and White would pull out in front 11-9 before trading service with UM as the score became 14-13. MSU maintained its one point lead with the score reaching 17-16. After tying the set up at 17, Minnesota took over the set as it held a 19-18 lead. The Spartans, however, fought back to regain the lead at 21-20 before Minnesota ended the match with a 25-21 third set win. Rathje once again led the team in the set with six kills.
Joining Rathje in double-digit kills was Schatzle with 12 kills. Freshman Kristen Kelsay (Wheaton, Ill.) quarterbacked the MSU offense with 20 assists on the night. Junior Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.) was second with 18 assists. Emro also led the team with two service aces against the Golden Gophers. Schatzle posted a team-high eight digs for the MSU defense, while junior Carli Weiler (Oak Lawn, Ill.) was second with six and junior Becca Zlabis had five. Emro and Rathje were strong at the net with three blocks each.
The Spartans return to action tomorrow, Sept. 25 when they face Iowa inside the Breslin Center at 7 p.m. All fans who attend the MSU football game against Northern Colorado will receive free admission to the match when they present their ticket stub to the ticket attendant.
