Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
3-0
Eastern Kentucky
2-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky | 21 | 24 | 10 | 0 |
| Michigan State | 25 | 26 | 25 | 3 |
Volleyball Captures Ninth Straight Spartan Showcase Title
8/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 25, 2012
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State volleyball won its ninth straight Spartan Showcase title after taking down Eastern Kentucky, 3-0, in the championship match. Juniors Kelsey Kuipers and Alexis Mathews were both named to the all-tournament team and Lauren Wicinski received MVP honors in her first tournament at Michigan State after transferring from Northern Illinois.
WATCH: Spartan Showcase Highlights
"She is a hammer and really is a very good volleyball player," head coach Cathy George said of Wicinski. "I think it's great to see her meshing with our team. She is integral, she is a great attacker and player."
Michigan State opened the afternoon with a 3-1 win over Youngstown State, setting up the match-up with Eastern Kentucky. The Colonels were also 2-0 after beating McNeese State in their morning match.
"I don't think we were very sharp this morning," George said of MSU losing the opening set to the Penguins. "I just don't think we executed the way we needed to but then we started coming back around."
The Spartans took the first set over Eastern Kentucky, 25-21, behind four kills from Alexis Mathews and six digs from Kori Moster. Lauren Wicinski scored an ace with the score at 17-15, forcing the Colonels to call a time out.
After the break, Wicinski came back with another ace for Michigan State, extending the lead to 19-15. Jazmine White and Wicinski recorded a huge block to end the set and give MSU the lead, 1-0.
An eventful set two ensued and Michigan State was able to fight off EKU, 26-24. The Spartans forced a timeout after jumping out to a 13-7 lead with a block by Jazmine White and Kelsey Kuipers. The Colonels climbed back into the set with four kills from Ashley Edmond, who was also selected to the all-tournament team. There were a total of six lead changes and six ties throughout the set and both Amy Dentlinger and Lauren Wicinski notched six kills in the set.
The Spartans were relentless in the third and final set jumping out to a 15-4 lead after a kill by Taylor Galloway and never looked back. Michigan State had 17 kills on 25 attacks without an error in the third set and had recorded an attack percentage of .680. Freshman Halle Peterson ended the match with a service ace, her first of her career, giving MSU the 25-10 victory and first place at the Spartan Showcase.
Kori Moster led the team with 17 digs in the match and Kristen Kelsay finished with 24 assists. Jazmine White had four blocks for MSU and Lauren Wicinski added 16 kills and four service aces for Michigan State.
Michigan State is on the road next weekend at the University of Connecticut Classic and returns home to host the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational on Sept. 7-8 at Jenison Field House.
Spartan Showcase Tournament Finish
1st - Michigan State
2nd - Eastern Kentucky
3rd - Youngstown State
4th - McNeese State
Spartan Showcase All-Tournament Team
Malina Sanchez - McNeese State
Missy Hundelt - Youngstown State
Ashley Edmond - Eastern Kentucky
Kelsey Kechner - Eastern Kentucky
Kelsey Kuipers - Michigan State
Alexis Mathews - Michigan State
Lauren Wicinski (MVP) - Michigan State
