EAST LANSING, Mich. – For the first time since 2006, the Michigan State volleyball program has swept the season series against Michigan, winning 3-1 (20-25, 28-26, 25-13, 25-16) on Wednesday night to stake claim of the State Pride Flag from inside the Breslin Center.
“It was a battle at the beginning, we came out a little flat,” Michigan State volleyball head coach Leah Johnson said. “Once we got regulated, I thought we turned back into the team that I’ve been coaching all season.”
Michigan State improves to 13-7 overall and 5-4 in B1G play while Michigan falls to 3-15 overall and 1-8 in conference. MSU has officially earned more conference victories than a season ago with its fifth B1G win. It’s the first time the Spartans have won the State Pride Series, which can be won via total sets taken, since 2015.
ON THE BANKS 🎶
The Breslin Center was rockin’ tonight. Thank you Spartan fans for bringing the noise#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/ThrHtUx1b9
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) October 19, 2023
Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem led the match with 16 kills, hitting .353 with seven digs and a pair of aces. Sophomore right side Evie Doezema had an efficient night with 10 kills and no errors on 17 swings to hit .588. Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur had a match-high eight blocks (three solo, five assisted) and posted eight kills on .400 hitting.
Senior libero Nalani Iosia finished with 20 digs and nine assists to narrowly miss a double-double. Junior setter Julia Bishop found her fourth double-double of the season with 15 assists and 11 digs. Fellow junior setter Rachel Muisenga had a team-high 17 assists.
Michigan was led in kills by Valentina Vaulet who had 13. Morgan Burke led with 25 assists and 17 digs. Serena Nyambio posted five blocks and eight kills.
As a team the Spartans out-hit Michigan .276 to .127 overall and .351 to .098 over the final three sets of the match after the team settled in. MSU hit a match-high .394 in set three. The Spartans finished with more kills (50 to 40), assists (46 to 35), digs (58 to 52) and blocks (12 to 9). Michigan State sided-out at clips of 70%, 69% and 70% in the final three sets.
Michigan State opened up an early advantage in the first, up 6-3, but an 8-1 Wolverine run provided…
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