Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
13-4, 6-2Big Ten
Rutgers
5-15, 0-8Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Rutgers | 17 | 13 | 21 | 0 |
Spartans Sweep Rutgers, 3-0
10/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Box Score | PDF Box: MSU 3, Rutgers 0
SPARTAN SYNOPSIS
Michigan State posted a 3-0 victory (25-17, 25-13, 25-21) over Rutgers on Saturday in New Jersey. The No. 10 Spartans got at least two kills from every non-DS who played in the game and improved to 13-4 overall and 6-2 in Big Ten play, while Rutgers falls to 5-15 and 0-8.
Michigan State had an opportunity to use its bench liberally in the second match of the weekend - the Spartans had eight players with two or more kills, led by 10 for senior Autumn Bailey, who played all three sets, hit .474, and added three digs and two blocks. Seniors Megan Tompkins had six kills and three blocks, while Alyssa Garvelink also had six kills and hit .750. Redshirt freshman Lauren Swartz had a season-best five kills and a solo block while Alyssa Chronowski had four kills.
The Spartans hit .378 on the night, with four players hitting .364 with three kills or more.
Rutgers was led by Sahbria McLethie and Stasa Miljevic, who each had eight terminations; Setter Megan Sharkey had 25 assists and led her team with three blocks.
Michigan State welcomes archrival Michigan on Wednesday for its annual Jam Jenison event.
QUOTABLE
"After a tough loss on Friday, we were very focused on staying on the task at hand today. I was happy that we were able to get some of our players who don't usually have opportunities into the game tonight, and it was great for them to gain some confidence and get those game reps that we haven't had the opportunity to provide them with the schedule we've had so far. We have a pretty quick turnaround with Michigan coming in on Wednesday, so its a quick re-focus for us."
- Head Coach Cathy George
TOP PERFORMERS
- Autumn Bailey had 10 kills and three digs, adding a service ace and two blocks
- Alyssa Garvelink hit .750, (6-0-8).
- Megan Tompkins had six kills, hit .417, and added three blocks and an ace.
- Maggie Midgette recorded 33 assists in her third start of the season, adding three aces, three digs, three kills and a pair of blocks.
STATS AND STORYLINES
- MSU responded from a 3-1 loss at Penn State on Friday with the victory on Saturday, staying perfect (4-0) in the match after a loss.
- The Spartans are now 3-4 in road matches this season.
- With 10 service aces, MSU tied its season best established against both Auburn and Georgia Tech on Aug. 27.
GAME REPLAY
- SET TWO: The second set was closer, as the MSU lead was no more than two points until a Chronowski kill, Rutgers error, and Midgette ace started a 5-1 MSU run that pushed the Spartan lead to 11-6. Rutgers called time out to regroup, but MSU scored three of the next four points and kept the foot on the gas to take a 19-10 lead, and a Bailey tool off the block made it a 10-point lead at 20-10. Rutgers called its second time out, but Bailey followed it up with a block out of the break, followed by another service ace by Monson, to make it 22-10. Up 23-13, Bailey got MSU to set point on a back-row attack, and a Rutgers error sealed the 25-13 win in the frame. MSU sided out at a 76% clip (10-13), hitting .346 and recording two blocks. Bailey had five kills and a pair of digs, while Alyssa Chronowski had four, establishing a new career best for the freshman. .
- SET THREE: Trailing 8-4, the Scarlet Knights pulled within one at 9-8, but they served long on the opportunity - and Midgette followed with a let serve for an ace. Rutgers kept pressing and with the match tied 11-11, Cathy George challenged for the second time in the frame on a touch, and was correct on her assertion as the go-ahead point went to the Spartans, 12-11. That continued a 7-1 run for MSU, allowing the Spartans to extend their lead out to 18-12. The Scarlet Knights then countered with a 6-2 run to cut their deficit down to two (20-18), and MSU called time out. Meredith Norris got the sideout out of the break on a sharp-angle kill, and Tompkins re-estalished a four-point MSU edge with an ace, MSU's ninth of the night. Norris got the Spartans to match point with aher third kill of the frame, and then delivered a second service ace to close out the set 25-21. MSU hit .286 in the third frame with primarily reserves on the floor, and Rutgers hit .154.
