Sweep of IUPUI Opens Saturday Action

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State earned its second victory of the weekend with a 3-0 sweep of IUPUI (25-18, 25-21, xxx) at the Green & White Classic tournament.

The Spartans (6-2) hit .239 in the match, overcoming a tough middle frame which was fueled by unforced errors for both teams. The Spartans out-blocked their guests by an 8-2 margin.

MSU was led by a 10-kill,, performance from senior Rebecka Poljan, who hit .667 and added three blocks and a pair of service aces. Sarah Franklin had eight kills, while Naya Gros led all players with five blocks and added three kills.

MSU has six match victories by 3-0 scores this season.

Michigan State completes the Green & White Classic with a match against in-state rival Central Michigan (7 pm) at Jenison Field House.

PLAYER HIGHS

Rebecka Poljan had 10 kills, three blocks, and added two aces, hitting .667 (10-2-12)
Sarah Franklin had eight kills on a .227 hitting percentage
Naya Gros led all players with five blocks, and added three kills on five swings.

STATS AND STORYLINES

Molly Johnson had a season-best four blocks and also posted two service aces, a match high this season.
Poljan hit .400 or better for the fifth time in eight games.
MSU was held back by 13 service errors in the game, but had six aces

SET SYNOPSIS

SET ONE: MSU built an early 9-4 advantage on four kills, a block, and a service ace, but the Jaguars fought back within a point at 10-9. MSU had four service errors by the midpoint of the frame, but was hitting .357 (7-2-14) to pull ahead 16-12. MSU's biggest lead came at 21-16 on a big swing from Max-Brown, forcing the visitors into a time out; MSU got to set point at 24-17 on a Poljan termination, and then took the set 25-18 on an IUPUI service error. Franklin led MSU with five kills (.571), and Gros had a pair of kills and both Spartan blocks.

SET TWO: The second frame was a bit messy for both teams – the Sprtans with IUPUI opened the second set with a pair of big blocks, but the Spartans scored the next four to pull ahead. MSY took an 12-6 lead on a pair of IUPUI hitting errors and a big block – each team had just one kill to that point of the set, with the Jaguars committing eight hitting errors. MSU built to an eight point advantage at 20-12, but some unforced Spartan errors allowed the Jaguars to come back within four before the Spartans closed it out 25-21. Poljan had three kills and two blocks, but MSU hit just .038 (7-6-26) with five service errors. On the other side of the net, IUPUI hit .-125 (8-12-32)

SET THREE: MSU made immediate adjustments in the set break and came out with six kills on its first 10 swings, building a 12-6 advantage. The Jaguars got within three, but MSU used a .471 hitting percentage in the set to build a 19-12 advantage and force IUPUI into its second time out. MSU kept its foot on the gas and hit .333 in the final frame, delivering 13 kills in that final stanza. Poljan was a perfect 5-0-5 in the set, including the final dagger of a kill on match point. Max-Brown had four kills and four digs.

Next Event

Team Stats

Rebecka Poljan

Sarah Franklin

Cecilee Max-Brown

Naya Gros

Players Mentioned

Sarah Franklin

Naya Gros

Molly Johnson

Rebecka Poljan

Players Mentioned

Sarah Franklin

Naya Gros

Molly Johnson

Rebecka Poljan