Sunday, November 20
Evanston, Ill.
2:00 pm
Michigan State University
12-17,3-15Big Ten
3
at
0
Northwestern
17-13,6-12Big Ten
1
2
3
F
Michigan St.
25
28
29
3
Northwestern
20
26
27
0
Spartans Scratch the Wildcats to Complete Season Sweep
11/20/2022 4:10:00 PM | Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Michigan State volleyball completed the season sweep of Northwestern on Sunday afternoon, taking down the Wildcats 3-0 (25-20, 28-26, 29-27). The Spartans didn't drop a set to Northwestern all season, sweeping the Wildcats in each match-up. MSU earned its 12th win of the season to improve upon last season's win total of 11.
82 team points is the most single-game points for the Spartans in a three-set match in program history under the 25-point scoring system (set scores of 25, 28, 29).
Michigan State out-hit the Wildcats .278 to .179 and out-blocked Northwestern 8-4. The Spartan attack was consistent throughout the match as Michigan State hit .300 in set one, .262 in set two and .279 in set three. MSU had six service aces led by a pair from each of junior Nalani Iosia and graduate Zoe Nunez.
Senior Emma Monks set a new career-high in kills in her final career away game with 13. Sophomore Aliyah Moore followed Monks into double-digits with 12, including the match-winner in set three. Fifth year Rebecka Poljan and freshman Maradith O'Gorman each had nine kills. Nunez posted her 10th double-double of the season with 35 kills and 11 digs. Iosia led the team with 18 digs and is 25 digs away 1,000 for her career. Monks and O'Gorman each had five blocks for the Spartans.
Michigan State trailed by two late in set one, 18-16, but the Spartans used a dominant run late in the set to take a 1-0 lead over the Wildcats. MSU went on a 9-2 run to claim the 25-20 victory. Monks finished the first set with five kills, while Poljan and Moore each finished with four.
Set two needed extra points, but it was once again Michigan State coming away on top. The Spartans trailed by three mid-way through the set, but a 7-0 Spartan run sparked a four point MSU advantage. Northwestern responded with a run of its own to take a 25-24 lead over Michigan State and go to set point, but the Spartans responded with a 4-1 run over the final points to take the 28-26 victory via an ace by Poljan.
Teams went back-and-forth in set three as each side took turns trading scoring runs. Northwestern went on a 6-1 run to take an 18-15 lead over MSU, but the Spartans responded with a 5-0 run to take a 20-18 lead. The lead swung back in favor of the Wildcats late after a 3-0 Northwestern run saw them go up 21-20. Michigan State's own 3-0 run found the Spartans up 23-21 and fighting to get to set point. Forced into extra points again, Northwestern was on set point up 26-25 before a 4-1 Spartan run ended the match. It was the newcomers who did it late for the Spartans, who got kills from Maradith O'Gorman, Evie Doezema and Aliyah Moore.
Temi Thomas-Ailara had 17 kills to lead Northwestern and was joined in double-figures by Hanna Lesiak's 13. Back in the Wildcat lineup, Alex Rousseau led the team with 39 assists. Megan Miller and Lesiak each had 10 digs for Northwestern.
Up Next: Michigan State wraps up the regular season at home next week, facing Rutgers at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23 and Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 26. First serve for the match against Iowa is set for 2:00 p.m. The Spartans previously faced the Scarlet Knights on Sep. 25, dropping a 3-2 match. Next Saturday will be the first meeting of the season between MSU and the Hawkeyes.
82 team points is the most single-game points for the Spartans in a three-set match in program history under the 25-point scoring system (set scores of 25, 28, 29).
Michigan State out-hit the Wildcats .278 to .179 and out-blocked Northwestern 8-4. The Spartan attack was consistent throughout the match as Michigan State hit .300 in set one, .262 in set two and .279 in set three. MSU had six service aces led by a pair from each of junior Nalani Iosia and graduate Zoe Nunez.
Senior Emma Monks set a new career-high in kills in her final career away game with 13. Sophomore Aliyah Moore followed Monks into double-digits with 12, including the match-winner in set three. Fifth year Rebecka Poljan and freshman Maradith O'Gorman each had nine kills. Nunez posted her 10th double-double of the season with 35 kills and 11 digs. Iosia led the team with 18 digs and is 25 digs away 1,000 for her career. Monks and O'Gorman each had five blocks for the Spartans.
Michigan State trailed by two late in set one, 18-16, but the Spartans used a dominant run late in the set to take a 1-0 lead over the Wildcats. MSU went on a 9-2 run to claim the 25-20 victory. Monks finished the first set with five kills, while Poljan and Moore each finished with four.
Set two needed extra points, but it was once again Michigan State coming away on top. The Spartans trailed by three mid-way through the set, but a 7-0 Spartan run sparked a four point MSU advantage. Northwestern responded with a run of its own to take a 25-24 lead over Michigan State and go to set point, but the Spartans responded with a 4-1 run over the final points to take the 28-26 victory via an ace by Poljan.
Teams went back-and-forth in set three as each side took turns trading scoring runs. Northwestern went on a 6-1 run to take an 18-15 lead over MSU, but the Spartans responded with a 5-0 run to take a 20-18 lead. The lead swung back in favor of the Wildcats late after a 3-0 Northwestern run saw them go up 21-20. Michigan State's own 3-0 run found the Spartans up 23-21 and fighting to get to set point. Forced into extra points again, Northwestern was on set point up 26-25 before a 4-1 Spartan run ended the match. It was the newcomers who did it late for the Spartans, who got kills from Maradith O'Gorman, Evie Doezema and Aliyah Moore.
Temi Thomas-Ailara had 17 kills to lead Northwestern and was joined in double-figures by Hanna Lesiak's 13. Back in the Wildcat lineup, Alex Rousseau led the team with 39 assists. Megan Miller and Lesiak each had 10 digs for Northwestern.
Up Next: Michigan State wraps up the regular season at home next week, facing Rutgers at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23 and Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 26. First serve for the match against Iowa is set for 2:00 p.m. The Spartans previously faced the Scarlet Knights on Sep. 25, dropping a 3-2 match. Next Saturday will be the first meeting of the season between MSU and the Hawkeyes.
Team Stats
MSU
NU
Kills
46
46
Errors
14
24
Attempts
115
123
Hitting %
.278
.179
Points
60
53
Assists
42
45
Aces
6
3
Blocks
8
4
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
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