DURHAM, N.C. – Playing in its first five set match of the season, Michigan State took down Duke, 3-2 (25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 21-25, 15-10), inside historic Cameron Indoor Stadium on Friday night. MSU dug deep to control set five from the onset after the Blue Devils charged back to take sets three and four.
“I loved the resilience,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “We had the 2-0 lead and kept fighting, I never felt like caved. We stayed in control. We were hungry in that fifth set and willed ourselves to win.”
Michigan State improves to 7-3 overall ahead of Sunday afternoon’s match in Chapel Hill, N.C. at University of North Carolina.
The Spartans were led by an 11-block effort from sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig. Kulig’s 11 blocks are the most by an MSU student-athlete since Alyssa Garvelink’s 11 against Northwestern on November 19, 2014. Kulig also contributed nine kills of 18 swings, hitting .500 with no errors and a service ace.
Junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson’s 13 kills paced the Michigan State offense, followed by a 10 kill, eight dig effort from sophomore outside hitter Taylah Holdem. Senior opposite Aliyah Moore posted a season-high nine kills. Alongside Kulig, junior middle blocker Evie Doezema hit .857 with six kills on seven attempts to give the Spartan middles a .600 hitting night (15-0-25).
Senior setter Rachel Muisenga led MSU with 28 assists and fifth year libero Nalani Iosia’s 25 digs matched her season high.
As a team Michigan State out-hit Duke .268 to .246 and out-blocked the Blue Devils 16 to six. MSU’s 16 blocks were a season best as a…
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