ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Michigan State volleyball claimed its second tournament victory of the season on Saturday, defeating VCU in five sets (3-2; 25-14, 25-12, 23-25, 22-25, 15-10) to win the 10th playing of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational. The Spartans improve to 6-0, marking the programs best start to a season since 2012 when the team started the season 12-0.
MSU out-hit VCU .250-to-.126, including an 8-to-6 advantage in services aces. VCU out-blocked the Spartans, 9-to-6. The Spartans saved their best hitting performance for the fifth set, hitting .444 on 10-2-18.
Graduate student Rebecka Poljan was named tournament MVP, while freshmen Evie Doezema and Maradith O’Gorman earned spots on the All-Tournament team.
Doezema led the Spartans with 16 kills on Saturday, followed by 13 from Poljan and 10 from O’Gorman. Poljan hit .500 for the match (13-2-22) while contributing three blocks. Sophomore Julia Bishop led the team in assists with 29 and graduate student Zoe Nunez added 18 as the team played in a 6-2 for the second consecutive match. Junior Nalani Iosia posted a career-best 26 digs.
Michigan State was dominant in the first two sets, defeating VCU by scores of 25-14 and 25-12 respectively. The Spartan defense held VCU to a .000 attacking percentage in the first set and a -.067 in the second set as MSU cruised to victory.
Just as hope looked lost for VCU, the Rams rallied back to win sets three and four by scores of 25-23 and 25-22. VCU’s defense improved as the match went on, scoring six total blocks in sets three and four. Qairo Bentley led the Rams with 11 kills while Corinna…
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