Friday, August 30
Greeley, Colo.
8 PM ET
Michigan State University
0-1,0-0Big Ten
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Northern Colorado
1-0,0-0Big Sky
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Michigan St.
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Northern Colo.
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Photo by: Brittney Kimball
Spartans Show Third Set Grit in Season Opener at Northern Colorado
8/30/2024 11:47:00 PM | Volleyball
GREELEY, Colo. – Michigan State volleyball started its 2024 campaign on the road at perennial NCAA tournament participant Northern Colorado on Friday night, falling 3-1 (21-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-25) at a filled Bank of Colorado Arena. The Spartans mounted a massive comeback in set three, winning 25-23 despite trailing 16-7 mid-way through.
MSU opens the season 0-1 and looks to bounce back on Saturday night when it meets Colorado State at Moby Arena. Aiming to make its fourth NCAA tournament appearance in the last five traditional NCAA seasons, Northern Colorado starts the year 1-0.
"I was impressed by Northern Colorado tonight," said Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson. "I was impressed with them before we showed up tonight after going through our scout. Everything we did as a team was soft. That's not who we're going to be, so our only option is to change. We didn't compete hard until we had nothing to lose."
Sophomore Taylah Holdem paced the Spartan offense with 12 kills and an ace, while junior Akasha Anderson chipped in 11 kills in her MSU debut. Splitting the setting duties, seniors Rachel Muisenga and Julia Bishop added 16 and 14 assists, respectively.
Sophomore Zuzanna Kulig set a new career-high in blocks with seven (three solo, four assisted) and tied freshman Mya Bolton for a team-best two aces behind the service line. Fifth year Nalani Iosia led the team with seven digs, but was trailed closely by Anderson, Holdem and Bolton with six.
After a back-and-forth start to set one, Northern Colorado built a seven-point advantage over the Spartans using a 5-0 run to lead 19-12. MSU looked to rally late in the frame using kills from Holdem and senior Aliyah Moore to cut the Bear advantage to two, 23-21. Holdem picked up right where she left off in 2023, finding five kills in the first for Michigan State, but Northern Colorado took it 25-21.
Teams once again traded points to start the second before MSU picked up steam using a 3-1 run to lead 18-16. Junior Nil Okur and Moore each found kills, while a block by Kulig and junior Taylor Preston capped the run. With the Spartans leading by a pair, a 9-4 Bears run finished the frame to give Northern Colorado the second set. Kulig featured heavily for MSU in set two, finishing with five blocks and a pair of service aces.
Michigan State found themselves trailing 16-7 in the third, but a kill off the bench by senior Grace Kelly ignited a fire in the Spartans. A 13-4 run, which included Kelly's kill, helped MSU tie the set at 20-20. Both sides traded blows late, with back-to-back kills providing Northern Colorado a slight 23-22 edge. Michigan State completed the comeback scoring three-straight to end the third on kills by Holdem and Kulig, and an ace by Holdem. Anderson dominated the third set for the Spartans finishing the stanza with six kills.
Bolton's second ace of the night put MSU within three, 10-7, early in the fourth, however Northern Colorado held a 15-10 advantage at the media timeout. The Bears came out of the break strong, scoring three straight to force MSU to call another timeout of its own. Northern Colorado edged the Spartans, 7-5, through the remainder of the set to take it, 25-15.
Up Next
Michigan State's weekend continues tomorrow night, Saturday, August 31, with a road match at Colorado State. First serve is set for 8:00 p.m. ET. The Rams (0-1) are receiving votes in the first American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll of the 2024 season.
MSU opens the season 0-1 and looks to bounce back on Saturday night when it meets Colorado State at Moby Arena. Aiming to make its fourth NCAA tournament appearance in the last five traditional NCAA seasons, Northern Colorado starts the year 1-0.
"I was impressed by Northern Colorado tonight," said Michigan State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson. "I was impressed with them before we showed up tonight after going through our scout. Everything we did as a team was soft. That's not who we're going to be, so our only option is to change. We didn't compete hard until we had nothing to lose."
Sophomore Taylah Holdem paced the Spartan offense with 12 kills and an ace, while junior Akasha Anderson chipped in 11 kills in her MSU debut. Splitting the setting duties, seniors Rachel Muisenga and Julia Bishop added 16 and 14 assists, respectively.
Sophomore Zuzanna Kulig set a new career-high in blocks with seven (three solo, four assisted) and tied freshman Mya Bolton for a team-best two aces behind the service line. Fifth year Nalani Iosia led the team with seven digs, but was trailed closely by Anderson, Holdem and Bolton with six.
We keep fighting#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/XKWClHu9V8
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) August 31, 2024
After a back-and-forth start to set one, Northern Colorado built a seven-point advantage over the Spartans using a 5-0 run to lead 19-12. MSU looked to rally late in the frame using kills from Holdem and senior Aliyah Moore to cut the Bear advantage to two, 23-21. Holdem picked up right where she left off in 2023, finding five kills in the first for Michigan State, but Northern Colorado took it 25-21.
Teams once again traded points to start the second before MSU picked up steam using a 3-1 run to lead 18-16. Junior Nil Okur and Moore each found kills, while a block by Kulig and junior Taylor Preston capped the run. With the Spartans leading by a pair, a 9-4 Bears run finished the frame to give Northern Colorado the second set. Kulig featured heavily for MSU in set two, finishing with five blocks and a pair of service aces.
Michigan State found themselves trailing 16-7 in the third, but a kill off the bench by senior Grace Kelly ignited a fire in the Spartans. A 13-4 run, which included Kelly's kill, helped MSU tie the set at 20-20. Both sides traded blows late, with back-to-back kills providing Northern Colorado a slight 23-22 edge. Michigan State completed the comeback scoring three-straight to end the third on kills by Holdem and Kulig, and an ace by Holdem. Anderson dominated the third set for the Spartans finishing the stanza with six kills.
Bolton's second ace of the night put MSU within three, 10-7, early in the fourth, however Northern Colorado held a 15-10 advantage at the media timeout. The Bears came out of the break strong, scoring three straight to force MSU to call another timeout of its own. Northern Colorado edged the Spartans, 7-5, through the remainder of the set to take it, 25-15.
Up Next
Michigan State's weekend continues tomorrow night, Saturday, August 31, with a road match at Colorado State. First serve is set for 8:00 p.m. ET. The Rams (0-1) are receiving votes in the first American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll of the 2024 season.
Team Stats
MSU
UNC
Kills
42
55
Errors
23
23
Attempts
122
129
Hitting %
.156
.248
Points
58.0
70.0
Assists
37
50
Aces
5
8
Blocks
11
7
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
2
Blocks
7
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
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