LINCOLN, Neb. – Michigan State volleyball battled on the road at No. 2-ranked Nebraska on Friday night, taking a set late but dropping a 3-1 (12-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-25) decision from inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The Spartans move to 11-7 overall and 3-4 in B1G action heading into Saturday night’s match against the Iowa Hawkeyes in Coralville, Iowa. Nebraska remains unbeaten at 16-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play.
Junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore led the Spartans with 10 kills and sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur added seven. Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem and junior outside hitter Grace Kelly each finished with six. Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur, Moore and Okur each had three blocks.
Senior libero Nalani Iosia tied for the match-high with 16 digs and had a pair of service aces. Junior setter Julia Bishop led the Spartans with 18 assists.
Michigan State’s offense got better as the night went on, hitting a higher percentage than the previous set in the final three sets. Nebraska out-hit the Spartans .302 to .097 and had the edge in blocks, 11-to-6.
Nebraska opened the match on a 6-0 run before MSU found its first point by way of a kill by Moore. Michigan State was able to out-score the Cornhuskers for a period of time late in the set, trailing 19-7 the Spartans went on a 5-3 run to pull back within 10 points using kills by Kelly, McArthur, Okur and Holdem. Nebraska would end the set finding kills on three consecutive rallies.
The two sides went back-and-forth to open the second set before Michigan State came out ahead with 12-11 lead following a Cornhusker…
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