Friday, October 13
Lincoln, Neb.
6 PM CT
Michigan State University
11-7,3-4Big Ten
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at
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Nebraska
16-0,7-0Big Ten
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2
3
4
F
Michigan St.
12
19
25
15
1
Nebraska
25
25
22
25
3
Volleyball Battles No. 2 Nebraska in Lincoln
10/13/2023 10:30:00 PM | Volleyball
LINCOLN, Neb. – Michigan State volleyball battled on the road at No. 2-ranked Nebraska on Friday night, taking a set late but dropping a 3-1 (12-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-25) decision from inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The Spartans move to 11-7 overall and 3-4 in B1G action heading into Saturday night's match against the Iowa Hawkeyes in Coralville, Iowa. Nebraska remains unbeaten at 16-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play.
Junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore led the Spartans with 10 kills and sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur added seven. Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem and junior outside hitter Grace Kelly each finished with six. Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur, Moore and Okur all had three blocks.
Senior libero Nalani Iosia tied for the match-high with 16 digs and had a pair of service aces. Junior setter Julia Bishop led the Spartans with 18 assists.
Michigan State's offense got better as the night went on, hitting a higher percentage than the previous set in the final three sets. Nebraska out-hit the Spartans .302 to .097 and had the edge in blocks, 11-to-6.
Nebraska opened the match on a 6-0 run before MSU found its first point by way of a kill by Moore. Michigan State was able to out-score the Cornhuskers for a period of time late in the set, trailing 19-7 the Spartans went on a 5-3 run to pull back within 10 points using kills by Kelly, McArthur, Okur and Holdem. Nebraska would end the set finding kills on three consecutive rallies.
The two sides went back-and-forth to open the second set before Michigan State came out ahead with a 12-11 lead following a Cornhusker attacking error. MSU utilized a 4-1 run trailing by two, 10-8, to take the lead, after kills by Moore and Okur, and a service ace from Iosia. After MSU took a lead Nebraska would go on a 7-1 scoring run to build an advantage of their own to lead 19-14. Kills by Doezema and Moore stunted Nebraska's momentum for a moment, but the Cornhuskers would out-score Michigan State 5-3 over the remainder of the set to take it 25-19.
Michigan State started strong in set three opening up a 6-1 lead over Nebraska, capped off by a double block by McArthur and Okur. MSU fought off Cornhusker run after Cornhusker run to maintain an advantage throughout the set, but never relinquished the lead. The Spartans held Nebraska to .000 hitting in the frame, the second time this season that Michigan State has held the Cornhuskers to .000 or worse hitting in a set. MSU led by as many as five points in the set, staving off a late Nebraska run that saw them pull within one point at 23-22. The Spartans used back-to-back kills by Moore and sophomore middle blocker Evie Doezema to win the third, 25-22, after a successful challenge by head coach Leah Johnson.
MSU kept things close early in set four as the two sides went point-for-point until the frame was tied at 7-7. Nebraska used a 7-1 run to open up a 14-8 advantage over the Spartans before Holdem found a kill to end it. The Cornhuskers took advantage of an 11-7 scoring edge over the remainder of the set to take the match.
UP NEXT
It's a quick turnaround for the Spartans who head to Coralville, Iowa to meet the Iowa Hawkeyes at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Xtream Arena. It's the first of two meetings between the teams in 2023. Iowa enters Saturday with an overall record of 8-11 and 0-7 in B1G play.
The Spartans move to 11-7 overall and 3-4 in B1G action heading into Saturday night's match against the Iowa Hawkeyes in Coralville, Iowa. Nebraska remains unbeaten at 16-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play.
Junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore led the Spartans with 10 kills and sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur added seven. Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem and junior outside hitter Grace Kelly each finished with six. Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur, Moore and Okur all had three blocks.
Senior libero Nalani Iosia tied for the match-high with 16 digs and had a pair of service aces. Junior setter Julia Bishop led the Spartans with 18 assists.
Michigan State's offense got better as the night went on, hitting a higher percentage than the previous set in the final three sets. Nebraska out-hit the Spartans .302 to .097 and had the edge in blocks, 11-to-6.
Nebraska opened the match on a 6-0 run before MSU found its first point by way of a kill by Moore. Michigan State was able to out-score the Cornhuskers for a period of time late in the set, trailing 19-7 the Spartans went on a 5-3 run to pull back within 10 points using kills by Kelly, McArthur, Okur and Holdem. Nebraska would end the set finding kills on three consecutive rallies.
The two sides went back-and-forth to open the second set before Michigan State came out ahead with a 12-11 lead following a Cornhusker attacking error. MSU utilized a 4-1 run trailing by two, 10-8, to take the lead, after kills by Moore and Okur, and a service ace from Iosia. After MSU took a lead Nebraska would go on a 7-1 scoring run to build an advantage of their own to lead 19-14. Kills by Doezema and Moore stunted Nebraska's momentum for a moment, but the Cornhuskers would out-score Michigan State 5-3 over the remainder of the set to take it 25-19.
Michigan State started strong in set three opening up a 6-1 lead over Nebraska, capped off by a double block by McArthur and Okur. MSU fought off Cornhusker run after Cornhusker run to maintain an advantage throughout the set, but never relinquished the lead. The Spartans held Nebraska to .000 hitting in the frame, the second time this season that Michigan State has held the Cornhuskers to .000 or worse hitting in a set. MSU led by as many as five points in the set, staving off a late Nebraska run that saw them pull within one point at 23-22. The Spartans used back-to-back kills by Moore and sophomore middle blocker Evie Doezema to win the third, 25-22, after a successful challenge by head coach Leah Johnson.
Spartans grab the 3rd set in Lincoln. 💥 pic.twitter.com/916PKdmBSl
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) October 14, 2023
MSU kept things close early in set four as the two sides went point-for-point until the frame was tied at 7-7. Nebraska used a 7-1 run to open up a 14-8 advantage over the Spartans before Holdem found a kill to end it. The Cornhuskers took advantage of an 11-7 scoring edge over the remainder of the set to take the match.
UP NEXT
It's a quick turnaround for the Spartans who head to Coralville, Iowa to meet the Iowa Hawkeyes at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Xtream Arena. It's the first of two meetings between the teams in 2023. Iowa enters Saturday with an overall record of 8-11 and 0-7 in B1G play.
Team Stats
MSU
Nebr
Kills
36
57
Errors
23
18
Attempts
134
129
Hitting %
.097
.302
Points
44.0
70.0
Assists
32
48
Aces
2
2
Blocks
6
11
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
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