Dec. 7, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Michigan State Spartans used three late-set rallies to sweep the Ohio Bobcats, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-19) and advance into the Lexington Sub-Regional final on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky.
The first set was taken by Michigan State, 25-21 as the Spartans closed the first frame on an 11-7 run and won the last three points to take the lead. Michigan State’s Alexis Matthews had five blocks in seven attempted attacks as she hit .571 in the opening set. Ohio (27-6, 14-2 MAC) had a lead of four at 11-7, but couldn’t withstand the MSU attack as the set wore on. Katie Horton led all Bobcat players with five kills in the set.
Michigan State (22-11, 10-10 B1G) would increase its lead to 2-0 in the match with a 25-22 second set win. The Spartans raced out to a quick 7-4 lead and stretched it to as large as six points at 13-7. Ohio would cut the deficit to 16-14 and would then again face four set points at 24-19 before a Mathews closed out the set at 25-22. Michigan State is now 17-0 when winning the first two sets of a match.
The third set was the closest of the three, with neither team gaining more than a two-point lead for the first 35 points of the set. The Spartans then finished the set on a 6-3 run to close out the match.
Michigan State moves to 22-11 on the season with the win, while Ohio’s season ends with a record of 27-6. The Spartans advance to the Lexington Sub-Regional final on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. ET at Memorial Coliseum against the winner of match two between top-seeded Kentucky and Duquesne.
