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Dominant defensive performance against Indiana helps MSU volleyball reach 750th program win

November 15, 2014
<p>Freshman setter Rachel Minarick spikes the ball while senior outside hitter Taylor Galloway holds her position for the return Nov. 15, 2014, during the game against Indiana University at Jenison Field House. The Spartans defeated the Hoosiers, 3-0. Raymond Williams/The State News</p>

Freshman setter Rachel Minarick spikes the ball while senior outside hitter Taylor Galloway holds her position for the return Nov. 15, 2014, during the game against Indiana University at Jenison Field House. The Spartans defeated the Hoosiers, 3-0. Raymond Williams/The State News

The women’s volleyball program’s 750th win came in record-setting fashion on Saturday night.

MSU (14-13 overall, 7-9 Big Ten) defeated Indiana (15-13, 6-10 Big Ten) in straight sets, 3-0 (25-12, 25-8, 25-14) at Jenison Field House to snap their three game losing streak.

The 34 total points allowed by the Spartans was the fewest in team history.

“It was a lot of fun,” head coach Cathy George said. “I thought the team came out with a lot of energy and focus.”

The Spartans did not have to break much of a sweat in the first set against the Hoosiers, before fans could get comfortable in their seats MSU led, 10-6.

It only got worse for Indiana from there, the Spartans won the opening set, 25-12.

MSU is now 14-4 overall when winning the first set.

The Spartans picked up where they left off in the second set, taking the first 10 points of the set.

A kill by Indiana’s senior outside hitter Morgan Leach finally got the Hoosiers on the board but it would be only a bump in the road for MSU, who took the set, 25-8.

The third set was the most competitive of the match but that’s not saying much.

Indiana looked as if they would stage a comeback after they cut the lead to four, 12-16.

However, a 5-0 run kick started by a kill from senior middle blocker and team co-captain Jazmine White crushed those hopes.

MSU went on to win the set, 25-14.

Sophomore outside hitter Chloe Reinig led MSU with 14 kills. Freshman setter Rachel Minarick had 29 assists.

Defensively, senior outside hitter Taylor Galloway and senior libero and team co-captain Kori Moster both finished with double digit digs. Galloway had 10, Moster finished with 11.

“I thought everybody chipped in and did their part,” George said, who on occasion even she stood up with the other 2,474 fans in attendance and clapped in approval.

Up next for MSU is a road matchup with Northwestern (15-12 overall, 5-11 Big Ten) on Wednesday night.

The Spartans swept the Wildcats in straight sets, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-16) on the first of the month at Jenison Field House.

No. 16 Purdue (21-7 overall, 11-5 Big Ten) clobbered Northwestern, 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-17) on Saturday night.

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