Syracuse University
Michigan State University
Volleyball Heads to Cleveland Undefeated
9/3/2009 12:44:36 PM | Volleyball
The Syracuse volleyball team puts its 4-0 record on the line against equally perfect foes Michigan State (3-0) and Cleveland State (5-0) in the Cleveland State Tournament. The Orange will face Michigan State on Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. before meeting tournament host Cleveland State on Sept. 5 at 11 a.m.
SU and Michigan State have only met twice in program history, with the all-time series knotted, 1-1. The Spartans won the last meeting between the two schools, 3-0, at the Delaware Invitational. The Orange won the only other meeting between the two schools, 3-0, in 1990 at the Illini Classic.
The Orange holds an 8-3 advantage in the all-time series with Cleveland State, which dates back to 1978. The two teams last met on Sept. 10, 2004 in a Big Orange Tournament match which SU won, 3-0.
Strong all-around play has helped the Orange maintain a 4-0 record, the best season start since 2004, heading into Cleveland State action. Syracuse dominated its competition at the Big Orange Tournament, defeating New Hampshire and Siena, 3-0 while knocking off Sacramento State, 3-2, in a five-match thriller. Despite struggling against Niagara earlier in the week, SU was able to pull out a 3-2 victory to stay perfect on the season.
Senior middle blocker Sarah Morton leads Syracuse at the net, both offensively and defensively, with 49 kills and 32 total blocks. Sophomore Noemie Lefebvre ranks second with 41 kills while senior Kacie MacTavish's 39 rank third. Rookie setter Laura Homann has fueled the high-powered Orange attack with 155 assists while senior libero Shanetha McLaurin's 75 digs is a team-leading mark.
Michigan State enters tournament action with a 3-0 record having captured their own tournament title last weekend. The Spartans defeated Southern California and Albany, 3-0 and North Carolina, 3-2, to capture the MSU Showcase crown. Redshirt sophomore Jenilee Rathje leads the MSU offense with 44 kills while senior middle blocker Mischelle Nelson has 20 total blocks on the season.
Cleveland State boasts a 5-0 record entering tournament play, having not lost a single set this season. The Vikings defeated Air Force, Canisius, Farleigh Dickinson and LaSalle all in 3-0 sweeps to capture the LaSalle Invitational tournament title, before defeating Robert Morris, 3-0. Freshman outside hitter Kara Koch leads a high-powered CSU offense that has dominated its opponents in kills 213-123.
