Record-Setting Performance Helps Spartans Improve to 2-0

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State improved to 2-0 on the season with a convincing 3-0 sweep of visiting Canisius (25-22, 25-19, 25-4) on Saturday in their second matchup of the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational.

MSU's 25-4 third-set victory is the fewest points the Spartans have allowed in a set in the 25-point rally scoring era, which began with the 2008 season.

MSU started slow, winning the first set 25-22 and overcoming a .086 hitting percentage. MSU's hitting improved in the second (.310) and then was dominating in the third (.62, 16-1-24). MSU used its bench more in the morning match today, as hot and humid conditions along with a two-match day would challenge the squad. In all, 10 players saw the floor.

Cecilee Max-Brown hit .435 on the morning, putting down 13 kills and two aces, adding five digs. Julia Bishop had 22 assists, two kills and a pair of digs in two sets, while Naya Gros led all players with four blocks.

MSU wraps its season-opening tournament with a match against Wright State at 7 pm.

PLAYER HIGHS

Cecilee Max-Brown had 13 kills, five digs, and hit .435.
Libero Talia Edmonds had 12 digs.
Naya Gros had three kills and four blocks as MSU held a 6-3 advantage over Canisius at the net.

STATS AND STORYLINES

MSU's 25-4 victory in the third set was is the fewest points the Spartans have allowed in a set in the 25-point rally scoring era, which began with the 2008 season.
In a two-match day following a night game, the Spartans liberally used their bench – 10 players saw action.
MSU served up 10 aces and had just one reception error on the day,
Celia Cullen had seven assists and six digs in the first set before making way for freshman setter Julia Bishop, who finished with 22 assists.

SET SYNOPSIS

SET ONE: Canisius got a fast start, taking a four-point edge and held it until 11-7; the Spartans drew back within a point at 12-11 with a kill by Franklin and an ace by Celia Cullen, then tied it up on a kill by Biamba Kabengele. The teams stayed close, and MSU managed to overcome a set hitting percentage of .086 to earn a 25-22 game victory. Franklin had three kills and MSU was aided by three aces, and out-blocked the Griffs 2-1.

SET TWO: Two aces and two Canisius errors helped the Spartans take an 8-6 lead in the second, as Spartan fans got their first look at freshman setter Julia Bishop. Canisius battled back into it to tie things at 12 and then take a 14-12 edge on a 4-0 run, and led 15-13 at the break. The visitors were hitting .417 to that point of the set, (7-2-12), while MSU had five kills compared to three errors. MSU rallied to turn a two-point deficit into a four-point lead, with two service aces from Franklin and a kill from Max-Brown to swing the momentum green – and force Canisius into a time out. MSU got to set point at 24-17 and while the visitors twice avoided the finale, Kabengele polished it off for the 25-19 victory. Max-Brown had four kills and an ace in the second frame, while Franklin and Emma Monks both had two kills and two blocks.

SET THREE: Four kills in their first five swings allowed the Spartans to jump out to a 7-1 advantage in the third, with some help from a Talia Edmonds ace. MSU pushed its lead out to nine (12-3) as Franklin and Max-Brown traded big swings. MSU extended its sizeable lead, pouring on the scoring with fresh legs in the lineup. MSU posted its largest set lead in the rally-scoring era, closing it out by limiting the visitors to just four points.

Players Mentioned

Julia Bishop

Celia Cullen

Talia Edmonds

Naya Gros

Biamba Kabengele

Cecilee Max-Brown

Emma Monks