Northwestern Blanked at No. 9 Michigan State, 3-0

10/5/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Oct. 5, 2013

Box Score


	No. 9 Michigan State 3, Northwestern 0 Jenison Field House • East Lansing, Mich. • Attendance: 3,010 \| Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Northwestern wrapped up its two-match swing through the state of Michigan Saturday evening and it struggled to get into an offensive rhythm as the Wildcats dropped a 3-0 decision to the Michigan State Spartans (25-20, 25-12, 25-20).

The 'Cats did not have a player record double-digit kills for the first time this season. Katie Dutchman posted a team-high seven kills, while Portage, Mich., native was NU's most efficient attacker with five kills at a clip of .357 (5-0-14).

"Michigan State played at a high level from the start tonight," said NU head coach Keylor Chan. "We were able to match that intensity at various times, but we didn't play with enough consistency when we got into trouble."

The Spartans staged a late 7-2 run in the opening game to win 25-20. NU's Savannah Paffen buried a kill to knot the score at 18 points apiece, but MSU answered with a point from Lauren Wicinski to spur the late surge.

Unfortunately Northwestern's fortunes didn't shift much in the second stanza. The Spartans kicked the frame off with a 7-1 run before Chan whistled for a timeout to try to stop the bleeding. Kori Moster served an ace for the squad to put Michigan State up 17-7 and they did not look back.

The Wildcats built an 11-8 lead following a kill from Dutchman and an attacking error on the Spartans, but Michigan State reeled off the next eight points to snatch a 16-11 cushion, one it would not relinquish. The ninth-ranked Spartans finished off the 'Cats by the same score as the first set, 25-20.

Dutchman also led Northwestern with three blocks, while Monica McGreal notched a team-high eight digs.

Wicinski, the NCAA's active career leader in kills, finished with a match-high 19 for Michigan State. The reigning AVCA/Sports Import National Player of the Week also added six digs, four aces and three blocks.

Northwestern continues its four-match road trip Friday, Oct. 11 with a trip to Bloomington, Ind. to face the IU Hoosiers. On Saturday, Oct. 12, the 'Cats will take on the 24th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette in a match that will be shown live on the Big Ten Network at 5 p.m. CT.

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