Friday, November 17
State College, Pa.
7 PM
Michigan State University
16-12,8-9Big Ten
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at
3
Penn State
18-8,12-5Big Ten
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3
4
F
Michigan St.
26
16
11
18
1
Penn St.
24
25
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25
3
Photo by: Brittney Kimball
Volleyball Starts Strong at #14 Penn State
11/17/2023 11:47:00 PM | Volleyball
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Michigan State volleyball started strong to take set one, but ultimately were defeated on the road at No. 14-ranked Penn State Friday night, 3-1 (24-26, 25-16, 25-11, 25-18) inside Rec Hall.
Michigan State moves to 16-12 overall and 8-9 in B1G action this season. Penn State improves to 18-8 on the season with a 12-5 mark in conference play.
Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem led the Spartans with 10 kills, her 21st time finishing in double-digits this season. Holdem added seven digs as senior libero Nalani Iosia paced the team with 12. The trio of junior opposite Aliyah Moore, sophomore opposite Evie Doezema and freshman middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig all finished with six kills. Kulig led MSU with a pair of service aces.
Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur led with three blocks. Junior setter Julia Bishop added 17 assists and junior setter Rachel Muisenga finished with 15.
The Spartans hit .138 for the match, finishing with 37 kills, 34 assists, three service aces and 33 digs. Penn State hit .362 with 58 kills on 116 attempts and out-blocked the Spartans, 10-to-6.
No team led by more than three points in the first as set one ended in favor of the Spartans, 26-24. The Nittany Lions built an early 10-7 advantage that was quickly ended by a 3-0 MSU run on a service error, Holdem ace and a block by McArthur and Doezema. Each sided traded side-outs until the Spartans took a 22-20 lead late. A 4-1 run put Penn State on set point, 24-23, but Michigan State would fend off set point to force extras. An ace by Kulig and Moore's third kill of the frame ended things in favor of MSU.
Penn State hit .414 in set two as it tied the match at 1-1. Michigan State trailed by just two points mid-way through the second, down 16-14 after a kill by Kulig, but the Nittany Lions used a 9-2 run to conclude the set.
The Nittany Lions hit .696 in the third to take a 2-1 led over MSU. A kill by McArthur brought Michigan State within a pair early, 6-4, but that was the closest the Spartans would get as Penn State would go on a 6-0 run to break open its lead.
Set four started close as a kill by Doezema brought Michigan State within one of the Nittany Lions early, 9-8. A 3-0 Penn State run however forced MSU's first timeout of the set. Penn State's momentum continued to build as a 16-9 lead saw the Spartans take their final timeout of the match. A kill by Kulig and a PSU attacking error bought Michigan State back within six points, 18-12. Sides went back-and-forth late, but Penn State would put itself on set point, 24-16. Michigan State staved of a pair of match points on a Nittany Lion attacking error and a kill by junior outside hitter Grace Kelly, but Penn State found the final kill of the match to win the set 25-18.
UP NEXT
Michigan State concludes its road trip at Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 18. First serve from College Avenue Gym is set for 6:00 p.m. Admission is free. The Scarlet Knights are 10-17 overall and 2-15 in B1G play this season. Michigan State previously defeated Rutgers, 3-1, on Oct. 1 inside the Breslin Center.
Michigan State moves to 16-12 overall and 8-9 in B1G action this season. Penn State improves to 18-8 on the season with a 12-5 mark in conference play.
We'll keep battling 🟢⚪️#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/8PwSHUFYdy
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) November 18, 2023
Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem led the Spartans with 10 kills, her 21st time finishing in double-digits this season. Holdem added seven digs as senior libero Nalani Iosia paced the team with 12. The trio of junior opposite Aliyah Moore, sophomore opposite Evie Doezema and freshman middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig all finished with six kills. Kulig led MSU with a pair of service aces.
Fifth year middle blocker Amani McArthur led with three blocks. Junior setter Julia Bishop added 17 assists and junior setter Rachel Muisenga finished with 15.
The Spartans hit .138 for the match, finishing with 37 kills, 34 assists, three service aces and 33 digs. Penn State hit .362 with 58 kills on 116 attempts and out-blocked the Spartans, 10-to-6.
No team led by more than three points in the first as set one ended in favor of the Spartans, 26-24. The Nittany Lions built an early 10-7 advantage that was quickly ended by a 3-0 MSU run on a service error, Holdem ace and a block by McArthur and Doezema. Each sided traded side-outs until the Spartans took a 22-20 lead late. A 4-1 run put Penn State on set point, 24-23, but Michigan State would fend off set point to force extras. An ace by Kulig and Moore's third kill of the frame ended things in favor of MSU.
Penn State hit .414 in set two as it tied the match at 1-1. Michigan State trailed by just two points mid-way through the second, down 16-14 after a kill by Kulig, but the Nittany Lions used a 9-2 run to conclude the set.
The Nittany Lions hit .696 in the third to take a 2-1 led over MSU. A kill by McArthur brought Michigan State within a pair early, 6-4, but that was the closest the Spartans would get as Penn State would go on a 6-0 run to break open its lead.
Set four started close as a kill by Doezema brought Michigan State within one of the Nittany Lions early, 9-8. A 3-0 Penn State run however forced MSU's first timeout of the set. Penn State's momentum continued to build as a 16-9 lead saw the Spartans take their final timeout of the match. A kill by Kulig and a PSU attacking error bought Michigan State back within six points, 18-12. Sides went back-and-forth late, but Penn State would put itself on set point, 24-16. Michigan State staved of a pair of match points on a Nittany Lion attacking error and a kill by junior outside hitter Grace Kelly, but Penn State found the final kill of the match to win the set 25-18.
UP NEXT
Michigan State concludes its road trip at Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 18. First serve from College Avenue Gym is set for 6:00 p.m. Admission is free. The Scarlet Knights are 10-17 overall and 2-15 in B1G play this season. Michigan State previously defeated Rutgers, 3-1, on Oct. 1 inside the Breslin Center.
Team Stats
MSU
PSU
Kills
37
58
Errors
22
16
Attempts
109
116
Hitting %
.138
.362
Points
46.0
77.0
Assists
34
54
Aces
3
9
Blocks
6
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
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