Friday, September 6
East Lansing, Mich.
7 PM
Michigan State University
2-2,0-0Big Ten
3
vs
1
Western Kentucky
3-2,0-0CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Western Ky.
15
17
25
23
1
Michigan St.
25
25
23
25
3
Photo by: Brittney Kimball
Volleyball Upends Western Kentucky (RV)
9/7/2024 1:03:00 AM | Volleyball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State volleyball welcomed Spartan fans to the Breslin Student Events Center for the first time in 2024 on Friday night, taking down Western Kentucky in four sets, 3-1 (25-15, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23). Western Kentucky entered the weekend receiving the second-most votes (68) of all non-Top 25 teams in the AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll.
"We opened up with a little different lineup which I think had Western Kentucky a little startled at first," said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. "That played to our advantage to come out really hot. We have a lot of depth and we want that to be a strength so I don't want to be scared to use it and find some different combinations."
MSU improves to 2-2 overall and continues play at the second-annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. match against Marist (0-5).
Senior setter Rachel Muisenga set a career-high in assists with 32 and finished one dig away from a double-double with nine. Junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson tallied her first double-double as a Spartan with 14 kills and 11 digs. Also with 14 kills, junior outside hitter Taylor Preston led all hitters in points (17.0).
Sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig led all players with four blocks and senior libero Nalani Iosia came close to a career-high in digs, finishing just shy with 25 along with eight assists.
As a team the Spartans hit an efficient .297 for the match, which includes a scorching .519 in set one. MSU committed just one attacking error in the first frame. Michigan State led the match in kills (62-46), service aces (5-4), digs (58-55) and blocks (8-7).
Sets one and two were all Michigan State from the onset with the Spartans taking commanding leads early in each. MSU didn't surrender the lead once in the first, leading from the get-go and by as many as 11 points late in the frame. Michigan State was first to 15, leading 15-9 after a Preston kill. A kill by Anderson provided the Spartans with their largest lead of the first, 23-12. A block by Preston and junior middle blocker Evie Doezema secured the set for MSU.
Once again the Spartans never relinquished their lead in set two, using a 9-0 run to lead the Hilltoppers 19-10. Anderson provided three kills and a block for MSU during that stretch after WKU briefly tied the stanza at 10-10. It was fitting that Anderson would finish off the set with her fourth kill of the frame, following back-to-back kills by Preston. Preston led Michigan State with five second set kills.
Western Kentucky led by as many as five points in set three, but MSU continued to hang around to make things interesting. A 5-1 Spartan run that featured three Preston kills tied the set up at 18-18. Doezema's eighth kill of the night later tied the set at 21-21. Both sides traded 2-0 runs, with a Hilltopper service error and attacking error tying the set for MSU at 23-23. A Western Kentucky block forced set four.
The Spartans trailed 17-14 just past the mid-way point in the fourth, but didn't give up. MSU utilized a 7-1 run to take a 21-19 lead over the Hilltoppers following consecutive kills from Anderson down the stretch. Senior outside hitter Grace Kelly came off the bench and provided three quick kills for Michigan State in the fourth, hitting 1.000 on three attempts. Kelly's final kill of the evening tied the fourth at 18-18. Kills from senior outside hitter Aliyah Moore and sophomore outside hitter Taylah Holdem put the Spartans on match point 24-21 before MSU closed things out.
Up Next
Michigan State continues play at the second annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance on Saturday afternoon, facing Marist at 3:00 p.m. Western Kentucky and Loyola will meet earlier in the day with first serve set for 12:30 p.m.
"We opened up with a little different lineup which I think had Western Kentucky a little startled at first," said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. "That played to our advantage to come out really hot. We have a lot of depth and we want that to be a strength so I don't want to be scared to use it and find some different combinations."
MSU improves to 2-2 overall and continues play at the second-annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. match against Marist (0-5).
Senior setter Rachel Muisenga set a career-high in assists with 32 and finished one dig away from a double-double with nine. Junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson tallied her first double-double as a Spartan with 14 kills and 11 digs. Also with 14 kills, junior outside hitter Taylor Preston led all hitters in points (17.0).
Sophomore middle blocker Zuzanna Kulig led all players with four blocks and senior libero Nalani Iosia came close to a career-high in digs, finishing just shy with 25 along with eight assists.
As a team the Spartans hit an efficient .297 for the match, which includes a scorching .519 in set one. MSU committed just one attacking error in the first frame. Michigan State led the match in kills (62-46), service aces (5-4), digs (58-55) and blocks (8-7).
Sets one and two were all Michigan State from the onset with the Spartans taking commanding leads early in each. MSU didn't surrender the lead once in the first, leading from the get-go and by as many as 11 points late in the frame. Michigan State was first to 15, leading 15-9 after a Preston kill. A kill by Anderson provided the Spartans with their largest lead of the first, 23-12. A block by Preston and junior middle blocker Evie Doezema secured the set for MSU.
The opening set goes to the Spartans 💪#B1GVolleyball x @MSU_Volleyball pic.twitter.com/6a3qcZm869
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) September 6, 2024
Once again the Spartans never relinquished their lead in set two, using a 9-0 run to lead the Hilltoppers 19-10. Anderson provided three kills and a block for MSU during that stretch after WKU briefly tied the stanza at 10-10. It was fitting that Anderson would finish off the set with her fourth kill of the frame, following back-to-back kills by Preston. Preston led Michigan State with five second set kills.
Akasha Anderson brings the hammer down 🔨
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) September 7, 2024
Spartans lead ☑️☑️⬜️#B1GVolleyball x @MSU_Volleyball pic.twitter.com/H39cCZoV3R
Western Kentucky led by as many as five points in set three, but MSU continued to hang around to make things interesting. A 5-1 Spartan run that featured three Preston kills tied the set up at 18-18. Doezema's eighth kill of the night later tied the set at 21-21. Both sides traded 2-0 runs, with a Hilltopper service error and attacking error tying the set for MSU at 23-23. A Western Kentucky block forced set four.
The Spartans trailed 17-14 just past the mid-way point in the fourth, but didn't give up. MSU utilized a 7-1 run to take a 21-19 lead over the Hilltoppers following consecutive kills from Anderson down the stretch. Senior outside hitter Grace Kelly came off the bench and provided three quick kills for Michigan State in the fourth, hitting 1.000 on three attempts. Kelly's final kill of the evening tied the fourth at 18-18. Kills from senior outside hitter Aliyah Moore and sophomore outside hitter Taylah Holdem put the Spartans on match point 24-21 before MSU closed things out.
Akasha Anderson brings the hammer down 🔨
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) September 7, 2024
Spartans lead ☑️☑️⬜️#B1GVolleyball x @MSU_Volleyball pic.twitter.com/H39cCZoV3R
Up Next
Michigan State continues play at the second annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance on Saturday afternoon, facing Marist at 3:00 p.m. Western Kentucky and Loyola will meet earlier in the day with first serve set for 12:30 p.m.
Team Stats
WestKy
MSU
Kills
46
62
Errors
18
19
Attempts
139
145
Hitting %
.201
.297
Points
57.0
75.0
Assists
43
54
Aces
4
5
Blocks
7
8
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
14
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballSecond Serve: Danyle Courtley's Comeback | Spartans All-Access
Tuesday, September 30
Kristen Kelsay Postgame Comments | Michigan
Saturday, September 27
Celebrating the Past | Alumni Weekend | Spartans All-Access
Friday, September 26
Kristen Kelsay Postgame Comments | Chicago State
Sunday, August 31