Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan State
Wildcats Drop Tough Five-Set Match at Michigan State
10/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 10, 2008
2008 Northwestern Volleyball Statistics 
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Northwestern continues to search for its first Big Ten Conference victory of the year, dropping a tough five set match to Michigan State (17-25, 25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 12-15) at Jenison Field House Friday evening. The Wildcats fall to 6-11 on the year and are 0-6 in conference play, while the Spartans improve to 11-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten.
Michigan State took control of the first set, pushing its advantage to four at 15-11. The Spartans were able to keep Northwestern at bay for the remainder of the set, although the Wildcats trimmed the gap to one at 15-14. But MSU outscored Northwestern 10-3, including a 5-0 run to close out the set and earn the 25-17 victory. Sophomore Sabel Moffett's (Temecula, Calif./Chapparal) four kills led the `Cat offensive charge, complimented by a pair from sophomore Naomi Johnson (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy).
The second set belonged to the Wildcats, as after the Spartans were able to tie it at nine, Northwestern pounced in front and never looked back. The `Cats were able to push that lead to five at 19-14, then held off Michigan State down the stretch to take the 25-20 win and tie the match at a set a piece. Moffett again had four kills for NU, with the duo of senior Chelsy Hyser (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) and sophomore Brittani Gray (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) backing her up with three kills each. Sophomore Elyse Glab (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) handed out a dozen assists, while she and Hyser blocked a pair of attacks as well.
Northwestern came out of the break the aggressor, jumping out quickly on the Spartans to take an early 11-7 lead. Michigan State would rally to jump in front 17-15, but a 10-4 run by the `Cats, led by a pair of kills from both Gray and junior Ariel Baxterbeck (Menlo Park, Calif./Castilleja), would complete the rally and give NU the 25-21 win. Gray and Baxterbeck finished with four kills in the set with Hyser adding three of her own. 11 assists from Glab and four digs from junior Kate Nobilio (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) aided in the victory.
Down to its final set on its home court, Michigan State responded in a big way in the fourth set, pushing its lead to six at 18-12. The Wildcats were ready for the challenge, going on a 6-1 run of their own to get to within one at 19-18. But Michigan State was able to hold off the NU rally to take the set 25-23 and force the decisive fifth set. Three more kills from Moffett, Gray and Johnson lead the Wildcat offense while Hyser added a pair of blocks and Glab dished out 10 assists.
It appeared the Wildcats might have found the answer for the Spartans in the early going of set five, pouncing out to a 6-3 lead. But Michigan State would rally to claim the lead at 10-9, then used the home court advantage to hold off NU 15-12 and complete the comeback. Megan Schatzle led the Spartans with 14 kills with Vanessa King and Kyndra Abron adding 13.
Moffett lead all players with 15 kills and was one of four `Cats to hit double-digit totals. Gray and Hyser finished with 11 for Northwestern with Johnson adding 10 of her own. Hyser again lead the Wildcats with five blocks, with Glab recording 42 assists and Nobilio digging 17 balls despite battling an ear infection.
Northwestern continues its quest for its first conference victory of the season with a pair of crucial Big Ten showdowns with ranked opponents. The Wildcats head south on I-57 to Champaign, Ill., to meet up with 19th-ranked Illinois Friday, Oct. 17, beginning at 7 p.m. NU then travels east to West Lafayette, Ind., to battle 18th-ranked Purdue Saturday, Oct. 18, with a 6 p.m. opening serve.
