Mastodons Test Spartans, Fall 3-2

Friday, September 7

East Lansing, Mich.

7 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

7-2

Michigan State

7-0

IPFW

Michigan State

Photo by: Lucas Carter

9/7/2012 9:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- It took five sets to separate IPFW and Michigan State on Friday night, but the Spartans were able to hold off the Mastodons 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 25-22, 9-15).

Four Mastodons reached a double figure kill total against Michigan State. Sophomore Emily Spencer led the team with 13 kills and 13 assists, her fourth double-double of the year. Haley Emenhiser ended the night with 11 kills while Hailie Ripley and Kendall Wienkes each tallied 10.

Megan Steenhuysen also recorded a double-double against Michigan State with a match-high 44 assists and 11 digs. Tessa McGill once again led the team with 29 digs.

Lauren Wicinski finished the night with a match-high 23 kills for the Spartans. Wicinski added two service aces and nine digs in the win. Kristen Kelsay and Halle Peterson were the assist leaders for MSU, while Kori Moster led the way in digs with 26.

A series of blocks helped IPFW beat Michigan State in the first set. Emily Spencer blocked a Taylor Galloway attack that tied the game at 22-22. The Spartans scored the next point which pushed IPFW to use a timeout. Out of the break, IPFW tied the game off a Hailie Ripley block. A Haley Emenhiser kill moved the Mastodons to match point and a block from Jessie Manwaring gave IPFW the first set 25-23.

The Mastodons got off to a 15-12 start in the second set before Michigan State stopped the momentum with a timeout. The Spartans scored first after the stoppage, but IPFW continued to play at a high level pushing the lead to 18-14 which forced MSU into using another timeout. Michigan State responded by going on a run that tied the set at 19-19. IPFW used two timeouts late, but they could not stop the comeback as the Spartans took set two 25-22.

Michigan State jumped out to a 15-9 lead in the third set and never looked back as they cruised to a 25-15 win. The Mastodons shook off the loss and started the fourth set on 6-0 run. The Spartans battled back and cut the lead to 24-22, but Hailie Ripley sent the match to a fifth set with a kill off the Megan Steenhuysen assist.

The fifth set started off well for IPFW as the 'Dons shot out to a 3-1 lead. The Spartans tied the game at 3-3 and they never trailed again after taking a 4-3 advantage. Kelsey Kuipers and Lauren Wicinski paced the Spartans down the stretch recording three kills each in the final set.

The Mastodons will return to action tomorrow morning with a game against Georgia at 10 a.m. The 2012 Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational will come to an end at 5:30 p.m. as the 'Dons face Albany at the Jenison Field House.

~ Feel the Rumble ~