Final Stats

EAST LANSING, MICH. (Nov. 22, 2014) - The Rutgers women's volleyball team was downed by Michigan State in three sets on Saturday night at the Jenison Field House. The Scarlet Knights (7-24, 0-18 Big Ten) fell to the Spartans (16-13, 9-9 Big Ten) by scores of 25-15, 25-17 and 25-16.

A total of six different Scarlet Knights posted two kills or more in tonight's matchup. Sophmore middles Micaela Anderson (La Canada, Calif.) and Lauren Cloyd (Champaign, Ill.) paced the squad with seven apiece.

Leading Michigan State, freshman middle Alyssa Garvelink notched a match-high 12 kills in the victory. On the defense, sophomore middle Allyssah Fitterer accounted for five of the teams seven total blocks.

The Spartans quickly jumped to a 10-3 lead to start the first set. After junior outside Alex Lassa (Eagle, Colo.) knocked down a kill to make the score 11-5, Rutgers would find momentum behind serves from junior middle Eden Frazier (Irvine, Calif.) to move the score to 11-7. However, the Spartans continued to expand their lead, moving the count to 18-8 on an eight point run. Lassa delivered another kill to stop the run, but it was not enough to get the Rutgers offense going. MSU took the win in the first, 25-15.

Moving into the second, the Scarlet Knights got off to another slow start, but were able to tie the score 5-5 on a kill from senior middle Rachel Andreassian (Fredricksburg, Texas). MSU attempted to widen their lead, holding RU back 10-6. Rutgers responded by cutting their deficit to one at 11-10 with another kill from Andreassian. The Spartans reclaimed control of the set with seven unanswered points en route to winning the stanza, 25-17.

In set three, Rutgers continued to search for a spark. The Scarlet Knights found a chance to move ahead with the score at 4-3, but the Spartans kept their edge. Guided by an ace from Anderson and a strike from Megan Stephenson (Burbank, Calif.), RU found another opportunity to move in front at 8-7, however, MSU went on to enlarge its margin to 13-7. In the end, the Spartans would close the set 25-16 to win the match.

Up next, the Scarlet Knights conclude their inaugural season in the Big Ten with two final home matches at the College Ave. Gym. First up, Rutgers welcomes Wisconsin for a weekday match on Wednesday, Nov. 26. On Saturday, Nov. 29, the squad wraps up competition with senior night against Ohio State. Both contests are set for 7 p.m. starts.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding women's volleyball, follow the program on Twitter @RUvball.

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