LOS ANGELES – In a match that ended after 1:40 a.m. ET, the Michigan State volleyball program came back from a 2-0 deficit to upset No. 16-ranked USC on Thursday night, 3-2 (20-25, 22-25, 27-25, 25-20, 15-13) at the Galen Center.
“I’m so proud of them,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “I’m so happy for them. They’ve never quit. I don’t care what the scores have said this team has never given up. You have to do a lot of hard in the Big Ten and eventually your hard pays off. I felt like we got better in each set tonight as the match progressed.”
Michigan State improves to 8-12 (1-8 B1G) while USC falls to 14-5 (6-3 B1G). It’s the first ranked win for MSU since Oct. 28, 2023, against No. 13-ranked Penn State in the Breslin Center.
Playing in front of 70 plus family members in attendance senior libero Nalani Iosia posted 10 digs, seven assists and a rare four kills, punishing the USC back court defense with pushes to the end line late in the match.
It’s more than volleyball. Volleyball is family for Nalani Iosia and Mia Tuaniga.@B1GVolleyball #GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/yAiiDRU4lI
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) October 25, 2024
Junior opposite Akasha Anderson stole the show matching a career-high 26 kills alongside a season-best 13 digs, five blocks and two service aces. Anderson surpassed the 1,000 career kill threshold during the match.
“Kash was excellent,” said Johnson. “Everyone played so hard tonight for Nalani Iosia and I felt that in particular from Kash.”
Junior outside hitter Taylor Preston was the other Spartan in double-figures with 12…
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