The MSU volleyball team fell short in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, losing 3-0 against No. 13 Kentucky in Lexington, Ky.
The Spartans fought to the wire in all three sets, but with their season on the line, could not do quite enough at the end of the first two frames to pull out a victory.
Kentucky captured the first two sets by scores of 25-23, and finished the deal with a 25-20 victory in the third set.
“We didn’t execute our ball control at key times to execute our offense,” head coach Cathy George said in a press conference afterward. “I feel that we have a lot of talent on our team, but the execution fell a little short, and I thought Kentucky handled those moments a little better.”
MSU has been close in several of its big matches this year, dropping 3-2 heartbreakers against No. 11 Minnesota and No. 16 Michigan in the past few weeks.
MSU was led by sophomore outside hitter Becca Zlabis’ 10 kills and sophomore setter Natalie Emro’s 32 assists.
The team finished 17-16 on the season and made its third tournament appearance in the past four years.
MSU had one of its most successful starts in school history, posting a 12-0 mark before the start of conference play, but then struggled through a 5-15 Big Ten season.
Nevertheless, the Spartans received a berth to the 64-team tournament, and drew a first round match against Kentucky, whom the Spartans defeated two seasons ago in the first round of the postseason.
The Spartans and Wildcats were knotted at 23 in the first set before Kentucky recorded the final two points.
Kentucky held a 24-20 lead in the second frame, and then held off a late Spartan run to earn the 25-23 win and also went on to take the final set.
Kentucky improves to 28-4 and advances to face Oregon in the tournament’s second round Saturday.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
