University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
4-6,0-0Big East
Michigan State University
6-3,0-0Big Ten
UConn Falls to Michigan State in First Game of Dog Pound Invitational
9/15/2023 9:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut women's volleyball team fell to Michigan State in three sets in the first game of the home Dog Pound Invitational.
The Huskies would fight through the tough Michigan State defense but would find some trouble getting their breakthrough in the first set. Mya Ayro and Emma Werkmeister would each post 3 kills after the set but would be left working back the deficit the Spartans led on. Michigan State took the first set 25-21.Â
Plenty of back-and-forth plays would unfold for the Huskies and the Spartans in the second set. UConn would look to get more aggressive on the attack as Cera Powell, Werkmeister, Ayro, and Taylor Pannell would all knock down kills early in the set. Then, Michigan State would reset with a timeout at 14 apiece and continuing to stay close. The Spartans began to separate themselves from the Huskies going on a 3-0 scoring run. UConn took a timeout trailing 22-19 but couldn't find an answer to Michigan's powerful offense late in the second set. UConn dropped the second 25-20.Â
UConn continued to apply pressure on the Michigan State offense as they stayed even through the middle of the third set. Werkmeister and Ayro both got up to nine kills each in the third set, while amping up the offensive attack. Then, the Spartans would fire away three straight kills and go on a 5-0Â scoring run, leading 14-11. UConn would take a second timeout trailing by five at 17-12. Out of the timeout, the Huskies would go on a 4-0 scoring run from the help of Ayro's kill and Berkland's ace. UConn stayed close late in the third set with 12 kills from Ayro and 10 from Werkmeister. The Spartans would pull away and take the third set, 25-23.Â
UConn now stands at 4-6 overall.Â
Up NextÂ
The Huskies will continue play tomorrow night at the Dog Pound Classic in Storrs against Binghamton at 7 p.m.Â
