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  Spartans Down IUPUI, 3-0, in Game Two of MSU Showcase
 
Freshman Alexis Mathews led the Spartans with a .538 hitting mark.
 
 
Senior Megan Schatzle tallied 10 kills in the Spartans' 3-0 win over IUPUI this afternoon.
 
Senior Megan Schatzle tallied 10 kills in the Spartans' 3-0 win over IUPUI this afternoon.
 
 

Aug. 28, 2010

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Spartans (2-0) continued action at the 2010 MSU Showcase when they downed IUPUI (0-2), 3-0, in its second match of the tournament. MSU has now won 20-straight Showcase matches, dating back to the 2004 season. Senior Megan Schatzle (Monroe, Mich.) led the team offensively as she tallied 10 kills on the afternoon, good for a .316 clip.

The Spartans opened the first set with a 3-0 lead over the Panthers. IUPUI rallied back to gain the 7-6 lead as they took seven of the next 10 points. After a long rally between the two squads, red-shirt junior Jenilee Rathje (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) killed the ball to bring the score to 12-9. MSU continued its offense as red-shirt freshman Alexis Mathews (Detroit, Mich.) put down her sixth kill of the set, bringing the score to 22-17 as IUPUI called timeout. Schatzle completed her perfect six-for-six first set when she closed the set, 25-20.

As the second set opened, no team was able to gain the offensive advantage, until MSU went on a 4-1 run which ended on a solo block from sophomore Amy Dentlinger (Arcadia, Iowa) to bring the score to 10-7. With the score at 19-11, the Spartans' offensive edge caused the Panthers to call its second timeout of the set. The Green and White closed out the second set, 25-14, with IUPUI only scoring three more points in the set. Dentlinger led the team in with five kills in the second frame.

MSU got out the gate slow in the third set as IUPUI took a 9-5 lead. The Spartans tied the set at 13 when the two Spartan freshmen, Kelsey Kuipers (Otsego, Mich.) and Kristen Kelsay (Wheaton, Ill.), connected for a Green and White kill. MSU went on a 5-2 run to gain the 18-15 lead, which was capped off by two-straight kills from Mathews. Just as the Panthers looked to get back in the match, Schatzle recorded a solo block against the IUPUI attack as the score reached 20-16. The Spartans closed out the third set after a long rally to bring the score to 25-19. Dentlinger once again led MSU in kills with three total.

 

 

Leading the team with 17 assists was junior Natalie Emro (Wildwood, Mo.). Kelsay also tallied double-digit assists as she posted 14. Senior Allyson Karaba (Muskegon, Mich.) recorded a team-best 11 digs on the afternoon. Rathje was the top player at the net with two solo blocks for a total of three total blocks. Mathews ended the match with nine kills, while Dentlinger contributed another eight to the offensive numbers.

As a team, the Spartans outhit IUPUI .297 to .131.

In the first match of the afternoon session, Evansville topped Bowling Green 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-16).

The Spartans close out the 2010 MSU Showcase tonight when they take on Evansville at 7 p.m. in Jenison Field House in the championship match. Both teams enter the final action of the weekend with perfect 2-0 records on the young season.

Head coach Cathy George and the Michigan State Volleyball program will be hosting its "Family Fun Day" at Jenison Field House on Saturday, Aug. 28th from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. The activities will take place before the final match of the Spartan Showcase vs. Evansville at 7 p.m. Parents can enjoy a relaxing afternoon as the kid's play in the Bounce House located outside Jenison Field House. Everyone is invited to take part in the festivities and stay for the match as the team looks to continue its strong start to the 2010 season.