University of Connecticut Athletics
Women's Volleyball Falls to Michigan State in MSU Showcase
9/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
EAST LANSING, Mich. (September 13, 2008) - Michigan State defeated the University of Connecticut women's volleyball team 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-14) on Saturday night in the Huskies last match of the MSU Showcase in East Lansing, Mich.
UConn's record falls to 6-3 on the season with the loss as the Huskies head back to Storrs, Conn. to host their first match of the 2008 season as Fairfield University will make the trip across Connecticut for the non-conference match-up on Wednesday night.
Michigan controlled the tempo of the match, starting with the first set as the Spartans used a 6-0 run to take a 16-6 lead. The Huskies battled back and climbed to within five but the Spartans' Becca Zlabis ended the set with a kill for her team's 25th point.
In the second set, the Spartans took an 11-6 lead with a kill by Natalie Emro but the Huskies used a 5-0 run to tie the set at 15. UConn took control with a 19-17 advantage before a UConn service error and MSU kill tied up the score once again. With the score knotted at 21, Michigan State recorded back-to-back service aces before a UConn hitting error to end the set with the Spartans on top to take a 2-0 set lead.
The Huskies challenged the Michigan State offensive efforts, led by Rebecca Murray (Carmel, Ind.) with two solo blocks and one block assist. But UConn's comeback was cut short, as the Spartans took the third set 25-14 to win the match.
Freshman setter Annie Luhrsen (Wheaton, Ill.) ended the night with 27 assists, four kills and six digs. Jordan Kirk (Plano, Texas) added eight kills for the Huskies as Chauntay Mickens (Germantown, Md.) also chipped in with eight.
Murray had a 6-for-9 hitting performance for a .667 hitting percentage in UConn's third loss of the season as there were just four lead changes throughout the match, including three in the second set.
Michigan State ended the night with a hitting percentage of .440 to UConn's .333 mark as the Spartans capped off the evening with a .682 third set showing. Emro led her team with 25 assists while adding six kills.
Junior Jessica Isaac (Erlanger, Ky.) earned a spot on the MSU Showcase All-Tournament team as she combined for five assists and 36 digs, including a 20-dig performance against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Friday night.
The Huskies will open up play at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Wednesday, Sept. 17 against the Fairfield Stags. The Huskies first home match of the season will begin at 7:00 p.m.
- UCONN -
