Box Score Oct. 18, 2014 Final Stats
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Oct. 18, 2014) - On the verge of capturing its first set victory in Big Ten play, the Rutgers women's volleyball team fell to Michigan State on Friday night at the College Ave. Gym. The Scarlet Knights were topped in three sets by scores of 25-16, 25-21 and 25-21.
"I am really excited about how we started in tonight's match," said head coach CJ Werneke. "We started well and executed the game plan that we worked on throughout practice this week . Adjusting to a different playing style from last night's match against Michigan, I thought we made that transition quickly. Our progression showed tonight. We had some opportunities yet again and at some point we are going to figure it out."
For the second night of the weekend, freshman outside Meme Fletcher (Overland Park, Kan.) recorded a team-high eight kills. Fletcher currently leads the squad with 182 kills in her rookie campaign. Defensively, junior middle Mikaela Matthews (San Diego, Calif.) notched four blocks to hold together a strong front line in the match.
Michigan State was paced by sophomore outside Chole Reinig with 12 kills in the win, followed by freshman middle Alyssa Garvelink with 10 kills of her own.
Rutgers found itself behind in the count at the start of set one, but the Scarlet Knights picked up its pace immediately. A kill delivered by Matthews. ignited the offense. In the next play, Fletcher knocked down a kill, followed by an ace from senior setter Nicole Bayer (Concord, Ohio), bringing the score to 6-12. RU and MSU continued to trade points, but in the end the Spartans took the set, 25-16.
Moving into the second set, the team's traded points yet again. Despite the quick start, Rutgers began to fall behind in the count, 9-13, but the team did not waiver. The Scarlet Knights tallied five points straight to move ahead, 15-14. The set continued with RU and MSU exchanging points back and forth. A kill by junior outside Alex Lassa (Eagle, Colo.) put the Scarlet Knights up, 20-19, before the Spartans went on a six-point run to create a 24-20 lead. Lassa registered another kill, but Michigan State answered with a kill of its own, closing the set, 25-21.
In set three, the Scarlet Knights focused on maintaining their momentum from the set prior. Although behind in the count, RU continued to find bursts of energy on tremendous plays from the front line. In the final serves of the set, Rutgers was able to bring the score within three, but it was not enough to top Michigan State. The Spartans won the final set, 25-21, and the match.
Up next, Rutgers travels to fellow Big Ten newcomer Maryland for its first weekday match of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The Terps return the visit later in the week, arriving at the Barn on Saturday, Oct. 25.
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