Sept. 9, 2009
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EAST LANSING, Mich. -The No. 18 Michigan State volleyball team (6-0) continues play as it travels this weekend for the UIC Invite. Joining MSU and host Illinois-Chicago will be Duquesne and Georgia State. The Spartans begin play on Friday with a 6 p.m., match against Duquesne. MSU will then return to action the following day, Saturday, at 1 p.m., when they battle Georgia State. The Green and White will conclude the tournament with a 8 p.m., match on Saturday against host UIC.
UIC Invitational
No. 18 Michigan State Spartans (6-0)
Duquesne (6-1) - Friday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. ET
Georgia State (6-1) - Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. ET
Illinois-Chicago (2-5) - Saturday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET
Game Information
Date: Friday-Saturday, Sept. 11-12
Times: 6 p.m., 1 p.m. & 8 p.m. ET
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Arena: Flames Athletic Center
Internet: Live Stats at www.msuspartans.com
Coaches
Michigan State
Cathy George (Illinois State `85)
Overall Record: 438-284 (23rd season)
School Record: 73-60 (fifth season)
Duquesne
Steve Opperman (Ohio State `87)
Overall Record: 271-297 (19th season)
School Record: 152-181 (12th season)
Illinois-Chicago
Katie Schumacher-Cawley (Penn State `02)
Overall Record: 2-5 (first season)
School Record: same
Georgia State
Mike Webster (Maryland `96)
Overall Record: 57-95 (sixth season)
School Record: same
Series Information
Duquesne
Michigan State leads 2-0
Last meeting: Sept. 6, 1997 - MSU 3, DU 1 (East Lansing, Mich.)
Georgia State
This is MSU's first meeting all-time with Georgia State
Illinois-Chicago
Illinois-Chicago leads 9-2-1
Last meeting: Sept. 2, 1994 - MSU 3, UIC 0 (South Bend, Ind.)
What You Need to Know
• The Spartans are off to their best start since the 2006 season, when the team also began the year winning its first six matches.
• Sophomore Kyndra Abron was named Big Ten Player of the Week following her performance at the MSU Showcase, where she was also named tournament MVP.
• Junior Megan Schatzle has been named to all-tournament teams twice this season - MSU Showcase and the CSU Invitational.
• Head coach Cathy George currently ranks 38th among active coaches with 438 career wins.
• This is the earliest the Spartans have been recognized by the AVCA since the 2003 season, when MSU was the 25th-ranked team to open the season.
• The Spartans' 3.0 blocks per set is the highest average since the 2001 season, when MSU ended the season averaging 3.01 blocks per set.
Last time out
The Spartans traveled to Cleveland, Ohio for the CSU Invitational. On Friday afternoon MSU opened the weekend with a 3-2 win over Syracuse. Later that evening the Green and White returned to the court against host Cleveland State. Once again, the Spartans were victorious, posting a 3-1 win over CSU. The following day MSU concluded the weekend with a 3-0 win over the Vikings. Junior Allyson Karaba was named tournament MVP after averaging 4.75 digs per set, while junior Megan Schatzle and senior Vanessa King were all-tournament team honorees.
