MSU volleyball: Minnesota 3, Michigan State 2

No. 13 Michigan State opened a four-match road trip with a heartbreaking loss at No. 2 Minnesota on Friday night, rallying from a 2-0 deficit before falling in extra points in the fifth frame  (17-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-19, 16-18).

MSU is now 2-2 in five-set affairs this season, and has played two of those against Minnesota - The Spartans took a road win at No. 20 Western Kentucky and fell to No. 1 Nebraska at home.   MSU had its six-match winning streak halted with the loss, and falls to 23-6 overall and 12-5 in Big Ten play (fourth place).  The second-ranked Gophers earned their seventh consecutive victory to improve to 21-4, 14-3 Big Ten.  

MSU trailed 2-0 in the match before rallying to send the match to a fifth set, and the teams had to battle through extra points in the deciding fifth frame - a set which featured 10 tie scores and seven lead changes.  

MSU had four players with double-figure kills and two with double-doubles, as Autumn Bailey had 11 kills and 15 digs, and Rachel Minarick had 55 assists, 11 digs, and three kills.  Chloe Reinig led MSU with 14 kills and added three blocks, and Alyssa Garvelink had nine blocks (three solo) and added 13 kills, hitting .357.

Freshman Alexis Hart had a match-high 20 kills, and senior Sarah Wilhite added 18 kills.   

The Spartans move on to play No. 3 Wisconsin on Saturday in Madison.