Spartans Improve in Each Set Against #6 Ohio State

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball showed improvement in every set on Saturday night, dropping a match to #6 Ohio State, 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 27-25) at the Breslin Student Events Center.

After hitting -.280 in set one, Michigan State clawed back to above even to hit .056 for the match. Ohio State started off hit hitting .350 in set, but as the Spartans adjusted the Buckeye attack became less effective as the match went on. OSU hit .317 in set two and .205 in set three.

Fifth year Rebecka Poljan and freshman Selin Aslayan tied for the team high with nine kills each, with Poljan hitting a team-best .261. Six of Poljan's nine kills came in set three as she lit a fire under the team with her performance. Graduate Zoe Nunez just missed her seventh double-double of the season with 21 assists and nine digs. Junior Nalani Iosia tied Nunez for the team dig lead with nine.

The Spartans started set one strong opening a 6-2 lead over Ohio State thanks to a 3-0 run that featured a kill from Aslayan, an ace from Nunez and a block by freshmen Nil Okur and Maradith O'Gorman. OSU claimed a slight edge but was brought back down to a one-point lead following an ace by Aslayan. From then on however, Ohio State used a 13-2 run to pull away from Michigan State and take the first set.

Ohio State opened set two up 6-3 before Michigan State used a 7-3 run to take a brief 10-9 lead following a block by Moore and Okur. The Spartan lead was short-lived however as OSU would then use a 7-0 run to pull ahead by six and force a Michigan State timeout. MSU brough the deficit back down to three at 16-13 using a 3-0 run on kills from Nunez and O'Gorman, and a block by freshman Evie Doezema and Okur. The Spartans got back within one, 17-16, to force a Buckeye timeout. Michigan State went on a 6-1 run mid-way through the set to trail by one. Ohio State was hot out of the timeout however scoring four consecutive points to build back a 21-16 lead.

Set three was the closest set of the night featuring 12 tied scores and five lead changes. The Spartans nearly took the set on the back of an outstanding performance by Poljan, who looked to will the team to a fourth set with her play. Michigan State led by as many as three, 19-16, late in the set but a 5-1 Buckeye run saw Ohio State claim a one-point advantage. MSU swung back around with a 3-0 run of its own to force and Ohio State timeout up 23-21. Ohio State responded well out of the timeout however using a 4-1 run to land on match point. Poljan's final kill of the night tied things up at 25-25, but two straight Buckeye points ended the match.

Ohio State was led by Emily Londot's 14 kills on 31 attempts, also getting double digit kills from Adria Powell (11) and Gabby Gonzales (10). Mac Podraza had a double-double with 34 assists and 10 digs. Powell had eight blocks for the Buckeyes.

Up Next: Michigan State remains at home next weekend, hosting Illinois and Northwestern. The Spartans first meet the Fighting Illini at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 before hosting the Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 12. First serve for Saturday's game against Northwestern is TBA.

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Team Stats

Selin Aslayan

Rebecka Poljan

Maradith O'Gorman

Zoe Nunez