CORALVILLE, Iowa – Michigan State volleyball returned to its winning ways on Saturday night, defeating Iowa 3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 30-28, 25-23) from inside Xtream Arena. Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem crossed the 20-kill threshold for the third time this season and senior libero Nalani Iosia tied her career-high in digs with 27.
The Spartans improve to 12-7 overall and 4-4 in B1G play. MSU has already matched its conference win total from a year ago with 12 matches remaining. Iowa falls to 8-12 overall and 0-8 in conference play.
Michigan State out-hit the Hawkeyes .259 to .151 and finished with 68 kills to Iowa’s 45. MSU held a slight advantage in the dig column, 72 to 68, while the two sides each finished with eight blocks.
Junior outside hitter Grace Kelly nearly joined Holdem with 20+ kills, finishing with 19 to Holdem’s 22. Holdem hit an efficient .432 (22-3-44) and posted a double-double with 12 digs. Junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore also finished with double-digit kills, adding 11 to MSU’s final tally.
Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur tied for the match-high with six blocks, while her two solo blocks led all players on Saturday night. Junior setter Rachel Muisenga set a new career-high in assists with 23, while junior setter Julia Bishop led the team with 26.
Neither team led by more than three points in set one as the two sides went point-for-point throughout the first. A 9-6 Hawkeye lead was the largest of the set before a 4-1 run by MSU tied things back up at 10-10 following kills by sophomore middle blocker Evie Doezema, Kelly and Holdem. Michigan State looked to take advantage of a late Iowa attacking error that tied the set at 23-23, but the Hawkeyes would score the final two points of the frame to take it, 25-23.
Michigan State got back on track in the second hitting an impressive .483 and holding Iowa to just .045 hitting. Holdem had seven of her kills in the second. MSU opened up a 6-1 lead early and never looked back, as the closest Iowa would get was three points at 6-3. A 5-0 Spartan run that featured three Holdem kills put MSU up 13-5 mid-way through the set. Both sides traded points late, but an ace by Kelly shifted momentum towards the Spartans for good at 19-9 and forced a Hawkeye timeout.
Set three was an all-out war as Michigan…
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