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After Halle Peterson injury, freshman Rachel Minarick to see increased role

September 16, 2014

Volleyball head coach Cathy George addressed Halle Peterson's injury and the oncoming Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational at her weekly presser on Tuesday. 

Photo by Troy Jefferson | The State News

No. 25 MSU volleyball (5-3 overall) will have to find a way to pick up the slack left behind after junior setter Halle Peterson dislocated her shoulder.

Peterson injured her shoulder during Friday’s game against No. 14 Oregon. There is no timetable for her return.

“Halle brings a lot to our team in terms of experience and leadership,” head coach Cathy George said.

Peterson enjoyed one of her best games of the season against Oregon before injuring her shoulder, posting a team-high 16 assists.

The injury leaves the Spartans thin at the setter position. Freshman Rachel Minarick is the only other setter on the roster.

“(An injury) could happen to anyone at any time,” sophomore outside hitter Chloe Reinig said. “We have to be prepared for anyone to go in, that’s our focus this season.”

Minarick is more than capable of stepping up. She has played in 28 of the team’s 29 sets this season and recorded a pair of double-doubles this past weekend.

“As a freshman setter you have to find your role and it’s a responsibility (Rachel) has taken on,” senior libero and co-captain Kori Moster said. “It just speeds the process up.”

Minarick had 55 assists against Oregon State on Saturday, which is the fourth-highest total by any player in the Big Ten this season.

“(Rachel) played so well on Saturday,” Moster said.

Minarick was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school, ranking No. 22 among senior aces according to PrepVolleyball.com

On the season, Minarick has a .400 hitting percentage, 26 kills, 75 digs and 255 assists.

The Spartans will have to lick their wounds quickly as three quality teams come to Jenison Field House for the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational this weekend.

Two of the three teams MSU welcomes, LIU-Brooklyn (7-3) and UW-Milwaukee (4-6) made the NCAA Tournament last year. The other team is Western Kentucky, which defeated then-ranked No. 8 Purdue last week.

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