Michigan State University
3-0
Jacksonville State
0-3
Spartans Run Away from Jacksonville State, 3-0
8/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Spartans out-blocked the Gamecocks 11-3 in the match, and limited JSU to just 18 kills total on 85 swings. Holding the Gamecocks to 39 total points, it tied for third all-time in a three-set match in the MSU record book. The Spartans allowed 40 points to Southeastern Louisiana in Friday's first game, which is now fifth-best all time. The school record of 35 was set against Dartmouth on Sept. 1, 2012.
Allyssah Fitterer led the way with 10 kills, her third consecutive double-digit kill performance to start the season, and also had thre service aces, four digs, and a pair of blocks. Holly Toliver had eight kills, while both Autumn Christenson and Chloe Reinig chipped in with seven each. Christenson played the final two sets, hit .600, and also had a career-best five blocks. Freshman setter Rachel Minarick had 28 assists and a game-best 12 digs, and a solo block.
The first set was a bit of a sloppy start for the Spartans, as Jacksonville State took a 4-3 lead in the early part of the match. MSU settled in and went on an 8-3 run to turn the deficit into an 11-7 lead, and then built its lead to 20-11 before finishing off the Gamecocks by a 25-15 margin. Toliver had five kills in the opening set, while White had three. Garvelink had two of the team's three blocks in the frame.
MSU improved its hitting percentage in each set; after hitting .263 in the first, the Sparans improved to .387 in the second set, as Christenson came in off the bench and had five kills and hit .500, while Fitterer went for four to push her game total to seven. Christenson also added three of her five blocks in the middle set.
The Spartans emptied the bench in the third set, cruising to a 25-10 victory as each of the 16 players who made the trip got into the contest. Maggie Halloran tied her career best with three kills and hit .750, Chloe Reinig led the way with four kills en route to her game total of seven, and redshirt freshman Megan Tompkins had three kills, an ace, a dig, and a pair of blocks.
MSU wraps up its opening weekend when it takes on host Samford at 8 p.m. CT this evening.
