LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Michigan State advanced into the roun
d of 32 in the NCAA tournament with a 3-0 sweep of Mid-American Conference champion Ohio on Saturday (25-22, 25-21, 25-19). The Spartans advance into Sunday's round of 32 for the third consecutive season, and improve to 22-11 on the season. Ohio concludes its year with a 27-6 overall record.
In the match, Lauren Wicinski had a 16-kill, four-ace, nine-dig performance while hitting .371; Alexis Mathews had 10 kills, hit .471 and had five blocks. Kelsey Kuipers had a career-best three solo blocks and had five total, while contributing four kills.
For Ohio, Katie Horton had 12 kills, while Kelly Lamberti was the only other Bobcat in double-digit kills, with 10 to go with four digs.
MSU out-blocked their opponents 11-2, and limited Ohio to hitting just .190 in the match. MSU hit .250, including a match-best .315 in the final set.
Wicinski's 16 kills moved her into 13th place all-time in the NCAA record book with 2,392 in her career. Mathews became MSU's career leader in block assists, as her five in the match gives her 557; her 618 career blocks ranks second at MSU and 12th in Big Ten history.
