Nationally Ranked Spartans Sweep Mastodons at Butler

Friday, September 13

Indianapolis, Ind.

3 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

6-3

Michigan State

6-1

Michigan State

IPFW

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Nationally Ranked Spartans Sweep Mastodons at Butler

9/13/2013 4:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE (.html)

INDIANAPOLIS - In each teams' first match of the 2013 Butler Invitational, the 15th ranked Michigan State Spartans swept the IPFW Mastodons 25-17, 25-15, 25-18.

Emily Spencer led the team with six kills, while Sarah Heckman and Hailie Ripley each had five kills. Jen Milligan picked up 10 digs, while Natasha Medic had four blocks, with Sencer and Heckman each adding three.

IPFW (6-3) scored first, before the Spartans (6-1) put together the next three points to lead 3-1, and did not trail again in the match. The Mastodons trailed by three at 18-15; however, Michigan State closed strong, out-scoring the Mastodons 8-3 the rest of the way in the 25-17 MSU victory.

The Mastodons once again opened the scoring in the second set, before Michigan State rattled off four straight points to lead 4-1. After a Michigan State attack error the closed the Spartan advantage to three at 12-9, MSU closed the door with a 13-6 run to take the middle of the three sets 25-15.

The Mastodons and Spartans traded points to start the match, and a 3-0 IPFW run turned a five-point Mastodon deficit to two at 15-13, but the 'Dons could not get any closer, as the Spartans pulled away late for a 25-18 victory.

IPFW hit .035 for the match (23 kills, 20 errors, 86 attempts), while dishing out 20 assists and a service ace. Michigan State hit .351 (45 kills, 12 errors, 94 attempts), with 42 digs and a trio of service aces. IPFW had seven blocks, being narrowly out-blocked compared to Michigan State's 9.5 blocks.

Michigan State was led by Lauren Wicinski, who had 15 kills, while Taylor Galloway had 11. Galloway added 14 digs, while Alexis Mathews had a match-high five blocks.

The Mastodons return to action at 7 p.m. tonight, when the team faces off against host Butler University, who topped Illinois State in five sets earlier in the afternoon.