Spartans Wrap Three-Game Road Swing at Indiana, Purdue

Oct. 27, 2016

Spartans at Indiana, at (RV) Purdue
Dates/Times	Friday, Oct. 28 at Indiana, 7 pm \| Saturday, Oct. 28 at Purdue, 7 pm
Location	Friday: Bloomington, Ind.; University Gym Saturday: West Lafayette, Ind.; Holloway Gymnasium
Tickets	at Indiana \| at Purdue
Live Statistics	at Indiana \|
Live Video Streams	at Indiana \| at Purdue
Radio Broadcast	Spartan Sports Network Keaton Gillogly, pxp Download the SSN App
Download Game Notes	Michigan State \| Indiana \| Purdue
Social Media	@MichStVB \| MichiganStateVB @MichStVB

MATCH NOTES

• No. 11 Michigan State takes to the road for a pair of Big Ten matches at Indiana and Purdue this weekend to conclude a three-game road trip.

• Both games at Indiana and Purdue will be available online on the BTN+ on BTN2Go platform. Both matches will have a radio broadcast via SpartanSportsNetwork.com with Keaton Gillogly on the call.

TEAM NOTES

• MSU's 17-5 record through 22 matches is MSU's best since the 2013 team sat at 18-4 at this point of the season.

• MSU sits at 6-4 through the first half of the Big Ten schedule. This will be the first meeting this year with both Indiana and Purdue. The Spartans split two meetings with each squad last season; MSU and Indiana each won their home matches against the other in 2015, while the road teams won the matchups between the Spartans and Purdue.

• The Spartans are coming off a split of their two matches last week, sweeping Rutgers at home on Wednesday before falling 3-0 at No. 19 Ohio State in the second meeting of the teams this season. The Spartans are now 3-5 against ranked opponents in 2016.

• The Spartans' strength of schedule sits at No. 13 this week, which ranks seventh among Big Ten teams (measured based on the teams already played.) Taking in all past and future opposition, MSU's schedule ranks 10th nationally.

• Michigan State fell four spots to No. 15 in the American Volleyball Coaches (AVCA) National poll for the week of Oct. 17. Nine Big Ten teams appear in this week's top 25, including the Conference holding down three of the top four spots (No. 1 Nebraska, No. 3 Minnesota, and No. 4 Wisconsin). No. 10 Penn State gives the Big Ten four teams among the top 10, while Michigan (13) and MSU (15) give the Conference six among the top 15.

• The RPI for Division I volleyball, which is one of the tools used for post-season NCAA Tournament selection and seeding, was initially released on Oct. 3. MSU has moved from No. 19 in the initial release to No. 12, No. 9, and to No. 14 this week in the fourth release. The Spartans are also one of eight programs from the Big Ten in the RPI top 20 and six in the top 12. In all, 11 Big ten teams and four of MSU's non-conference opponents are in the RPI top 64.

• MSU dropped its only back-to-back matches this season with losses to No. 1 Nebraska (Sept. 24) and No. 16 Penn State (Sept. 30.) MSU's longest winning streak was eight matches, its longest stretch since the 2013 season when the Spartans won 15 straight.

• The Spartans lead in the Big Ten and rank ninth nationally in service aces per set (1.97), which would be sixth at MSU all-time in a single season. MSU has six service aces or more in 13 of 22 matches. MSU's 146 aces has surpassed the team's 2015 total of 134. To break into the top 10 for a single-season total, MSU would need 179 or more.

• MSU has limited opponents to a .187 hitting percentage, which ranks fifth among B1G schools. The Spartans limited seven of 12 non-conference opponents to a .115 hitting percentage or lower.

• In MSU's five losses overall on the season, all five opponents hit better than .300 - No. 7 Florida hit .341, No. 1 Nebraska hit .202, No. 16 Penn State .333, No. 24 Illinois .319, and No. 19 Ohio State .347. They are the only four occasions that an MSU opponent hit .300 or better. The Spartans have held four opponents under a .200 hitting percentage in Big Ten play - their victories over Iowa,Rutgers, Penn State, and Maryland.

• On Oct. 15, Minnesota hit .268 in a five-set loss to the Spartans, and limited MSU to hitting .201. It was the first win this season for MSU when its opponent had a better hitting percentage. It's not MSU's lowest hitting percentage in a win, however - MSU hit just .113 in a three-set sweep of Southern Illinois on Sept. 10, but the Salukis had 28 kills and 28 errors in the match (.000).

• On the year, MSU is hitting .263, which would fall sixth all-time in the Spartan record book. MSU's hitting percentage is sixth in the Big Ten and 25th nationally.

• MSU hit a season-best .463 in last Wednesday's win over Rutgers (Oct. 19), bettering its previous high of .400, set against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Sept. 17. The Spartans also had 10 service aces, one short of the team's season high of 11 - which they have accomplished three times. In that same match, MSU also had 45 assists (most in a three-set match this season).

• MSU boasts a balanced attack, with five players averaging between 2.12 and 3.21 kills per set, and defensively has four averaging between 1.90 and 3.08 digs per frame.

• The Spartans rank ninth in the Big Ten with 2.34 blocks per set. MSU has 14 matches with seven team blocks or more, including eight double-digit blocking efforts. MSU established a new season high with 15 in the Oct. 15 match vs. Minnesota, but tied its season low with three vs. Ohio State last Saturday (Oct. 22).

• The Spartans have allowed just two double-digit block performances - No. 3 Minnesota had 10, and No. 1 Nebraska 13.5 - both in five-set matches.

• The Green and White owns 13 three-set victories in 22 matches. Just five times in 22 matches has MSU played more than three sets - the Spartans are 13-4 in three-set matches overall, 2-0 in four-setters, and are 2-1 their five-set affairs. MSU ranks sixth in the Big Ten in overall winning percentage (.773) and 25th among Division I schools.

• MSU is second in the Big Ten in overall wins (17) - only No. 1 Nebraska (18) has more. Western Kentucky (22-2) and Dayton (22-1) lead the nation in victories.

• Big Ten teams went a combined 122-36 (.772) in non-conference play, the best overall record in the country. The B1G was ahead of the Pac-12 (95-31, .753) and the SEC (108-49, .688).

• The Spartans opened 2016 with a sweep of the competition at the San Diego State Aztec Invitational (Aug. 26-27). This was the eighth time in 12 years under Cathy George that the Spartans started the season 3-0, and the second time in three years.

• MSU's lone loss of the pre-B1G season came to No. 7 Florida in the final match of the Spartan Invitational (Sept. 4.) MSU swept both Morgan State and Central Michigan on day one, but fell to the Gators in straight sets on day two.

• The Spartans outlasted host No. 23 Western Kentucky in a five-set thriller to win the Holiday Inn Invitational (Sept. 9-10). MSU swept both Cincinnati and Southern Illinois before matching up with the host school.

• MSU won its third non-conference tournament of the season by sweeping the Spartan Classic (Sept. 16-17). MSU opened with a victory over Notre Dame on Friday, then posted wins over Maryland-Eastern Shore and DePaul on Saturday.

• The Spartans have won 11 of their last 16 non-conference tournaments over the last six seasons.

• MSU was selected seventh in the Big Ten's pre-season volleyball poll. Defending National Champion Nebraska was the unanimous choice to win the league, followed by Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State, Illinois, and Ohio State.

• MSU is one of four programs in the Big Ten to finish .500 or better in Big Ten play over the last five seasons. Penn State, Nebraska, and Purdue are the other three.

• The Spartans will host a total of 16 games at Jenison Field House, where the Spartans are routinely a top-10 ranked attendance draw. MSU currently averages 2,800 fans per match at home (fifth nationally) and its total attendance of 33,597 ranks fourth nationally. Last season, MSU was eighth among Division I volleyball teams with an average of 2,872 fans per match, and were 11th nationally with a total of 37,333 fans in 13 home matches. MSU has four home matches remaining: vs. Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue, and the annual Jam Jenison match vs. Michigan, which will also be MSU's senior night. In Big Ten matches only, the Spartans average 3,571 fans per home match.

• MSU begins a four-game homestand next Friday that spans the first two weeks of November. Northwestern (Nov. 4) and Illinois (Nov. 5) will be at Jenison Field House next weekend for a pair of matches, with first serve each night scheduled for 6:30 pm.

PLAYER NOTES

• Michigan State has four athletes ranked among the top 10 in the Big Ten in service aces per set: Brooke Kranda (0.52, first), Rachel Minarick (third, 0.37), Holly Toliver (fifth, 0.36) and Autumn Bailey (11th, 0.30); Kranda is ninth nationally.

• Alyssa Garvelink ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 28th nationally in hitting percentage (.383), while ranking sixth in the B1G blocks (1.28/s), which is 39th among Division I players. She currently averages 2.46 kills per set. In Big Ten play only, Garvelink is third in blocks (1.43 per set) and fifth in hitting percentage (.388).

• Garvelink recorded her first career double-double with 10 blocks (one solo) and 18 kills in a home win over No. 3 Minnesota (Oct. 15). Garvelink established a new career high in kills and fell just one shy of her career best in blocks. Last Saturday, Garvelink was held to one block in MSU's season-low three at Ohio State - just the sixth time in 22 matches that Garvelink did not lead MSU in blocks in a match.

• Garvelink surpassed 300 career blocks with her three against Penn State (Sept. 30) while fellow middle Allyssah Fitterer secured her 300th career block vs. No. 1 Nebraska the previous Saturday. To move into the MSU all-time top 10, they need to surpass Jenilee Rathje's 366 (2007-11); Garvelink currently has 337, and Fitterer 318.

• Garvelink's 302 career block assists is also just outside MSU's career top 10. Erin Hartley (1998-2001) sits in 10th place with 321. Fitterer has 287 block assists.

• Garvelink's current 1.10 blocks per set average ranks in a tie for seventh in the MSU career annals. Her 1.28 blocks per set on the season would fall just outside the top 10 in the single-season record book.

• Garvelink's .383 hitting percentage and 1.28 blocks per set are her career bests. In her first two collegiate seasons, Garvelink hit .244 and averaged 2.15 kills and 1.05 blocks per frame.

• Allyssah Fitterer is hitting an impressive .404 on the season, averaging 2.17 kills per frame and 0.61 blocks per set. She is second in the Big Ten (and 17th nationally) in hitting percentage, and in Big Ten games only, she is hitting .368 - good for eighth.

• Fitterer has 942 career kills with 10 regular-season matches left to play, leaving her within striking distance of becoming the 22nd Spartan to accomplish 1,000 in her career. Chloe Reinig accomplished the feat earlier this season against Morgan State, and is the first Spartan to 1,000 kills since Lauren Wicinski in 2013.

• Fitterer's junior season saw her hit a career-best .301, but through the first 20 matches of the season, she is 17th in the nation with a .404 hitting percentage. She has committed just 25 errors on 228 swings. Fitterer's career hitting percentage was .277 entering her final collegiate campaign.

• Both Fitterer and Garvelink have hitting percentages that would rank among MSU's top single-season performances. Fitterer's .404 would rank in a tie for third, and Garvelink's .383 would be sixth. Only one time in school history has a pair of teammates had top-10 single-season hitting performances in the same season - in 2001, both Erin Hartley and Angela Morely hit .337, which is tied for 10th in a single season in the MSU annals. MSU has not had a .400 hitter for a season since 2000 (Jessica Sanborn, .417).

• Chloe Reinig is averaging 2.70 kills and 0.80 blocks per set, which is second on the team in both categories.

• Reinig is among the 30 NCAA women's volleyball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court who were announced last Thursday as candidates for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. Reinig is one of five candidates from the Big Ten. Joining her on the ballot is Nebraska's Kadie Rolfzen, Ohio State's Valeria Leon, and both Paige and Hannah Tapp from Minnesota.

• Holly Toliver shared the team lead vs. Rutgers last Wednesday with 10 kills, hitting a career-best 533 (10-2-15) and adding three digs and an ace. She ranks fifth in the Big Ten in service aces per set (0.35) and averages 1.52 kills and 0.27 blocks per frame. She averages 1.90 digs per set, third behind libero Abby Monson and Autumn Bailey. Her 1.93 digs per set is nearly double her career best coming into the season.

• Toliver, who dealt with several injuries in her first two seasons that limited her court time, is now one of two players to appear in 73 of 74 sets, sharing the team lead. Monson is the only other player to appear in that many sets.

• Autumn Bailey leads MSU with 3.21 kills per set, which is 11th among Big Ten leaders. She is hitting .230, and owns five double-doubles, her most recent a 11-kill, 11-dig performance on Oct. 15 vs. Minnesota. She has been MSU's top kill producer in 11 of 22 matches this season, including the most recent match vs. Ohio State (9)

• Bailey ranks second on the team with 2.41 digs per set, only behind libero Abby Monson. She is also 10th in the Big Ten with 0.30 service aces per set, and averages 0.37 blocks per frame.

• Rachel Minarick has averaged 10.29 assists per set over the first 10 Big Ten matches, which puts her ninth in Conference games. She is averaging 10.23 assists per set overall, which ranks 11th.

• Minarick recorded 54 assists, one shy of her career best, and also had three blocks, six digs, and a pair of kills on Oct. 15 vs. Minnesota. Her career best of 55 helpers came in the 2014 season as a freshman at Oregon State - a match where she also contributed 19 digs.

• Minarick's 2,956 career assists ranks seventh all-time in the MSU record book. Assistant coach Kristen Kelsay ranks sixth with 3,040 assists. Minarick's career average of 9.82 assists per frame is currently eighth in the Spartan record book.

• Brooke Kranda is averaging 2.12 kills per set overall, and leads the Big Ten with 0.52 aces per frame. In 10 Big Ten starts, she is contributing 2.15 kills and 0.52 blocks per set.

• Abby Monson has started all 22 matches at libero this season, and is averaging 3.08 digs per frame, good for 11th in the Big Ten. She established a new season-best total of 21 digs against Minnesota (Oct. 15), adding two assists. In Big Ten games only, her 3.03 digs per set ranks 10th.

• Senior DS Kristen Brashear had a season-high three service aces vs. Rutgers, and added five digs and an assist. She had another five digs on Saturday at Ohio State along with one kill.