Standing at six-foot-four feet tall, it’s not easy to miss outside hitter Chloe Reinig. Height aside, the sophomore standout has been a linchpin for No. 25 MSU volleyball (5-3 overall).
Reinig has made up for lost time after missing the non-conference portion of the 2013 season with mononucleosis. The outside hitter appeared in 25 matches last season.
She was vital over the weekend for the Spartans, who lost to Oregon on Friday night and defeated Oregon State on Saturday.
It was a constant struggle for MSU against the then No. 18 Ducks, who defeated the Spartans 3-1 (25-22, 13-25, 15-25, 12-25).
“(Oregon) came out really strong,” Reinig said. “We just weren’t very well prepared.”
Reinig finished with six kills, three digs and a .111 hitting percentage.
The South Lyon native and her team responded well the next night, defeating OSU 3-1 (26-24, 24-26, 25-23, 25-21).
“(Against) Oregon State we came out with a different mindset,” Reinig said.“(We) had a lot more discipline that really helped us out.”
She led MSU with a career-high 20 kills against Oregon State and also tied her season best with five blocks. It was the third time this season she had double digit kills in a game.
“There’s certain nights where you’re just feeling yourself,” Reinig said. “It was definitely one of those nights, there’s no better feeling.”
Reinig’s career game helped the Spartans snap a three game losing streak and gave the Beavers their first loss of the season.
“It was very exciting,” Reinig said.
On the season, she has played in 28 of 29 sets, averaging 2.89 kills per set with 81 kills and 20 blocks.
Reinig’s contributions will be needed for MSU, who lost junior setter Halle Peterson to a dislocated shoulder over the past weekend.
The Spartans have three more nonconference contests this weekend before they head to Indiana (7-1) to kick off the Big Ten schedule on Sept. 26.
MSU will play a day-night doubleheader against LIU Brooklyn (7-3) and Western Kentucky (10-2) on Friday and UW- Milwaukee (4-6) on Saturday night.
“They are very good teams,” Reinig said, “We just got to be stronger.”
