Sunday, September 8
East Lansing, Mich.
1 PM
Michigan State University
4-2,0-0Big Ten
3
vs
1
Loyola (Chicago)
2-4,0-0Atlantic 10
1
2
3
4
F
Loyola Chicago
19
25
20
23
1
Michigan St.
25
22
25
25
3
Photo by: Brittney Kimball
Volleyball Crowned Champions at Kathy DeBoer Invitational
9/8/2024 6:38:00 PM | Volleyball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Spartan volleyball completed an undefeated home-opening weekend on Sunday afternoon, capping off the 2024 Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance with a 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-23) victory over Loyola Chicago at the Breslin Student Events Center.
"Any time you can start with wins on your home court that's going to bode well for the season," said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. "It's important to me that we protect the Green & White while we're here at home and I thought the team rallied around each other. We used a lot of different players this weekend, and to still come away successful and not get rattled by all the change I thought was positive."
MSU improves to 4-2 overall on the season entering a short week in which they'll have just two days to prepare for Western Michigan, who rolls into town on Wednesday night following a 3-1 victory over No. 24-ranked Marquette on the road in Milwaukee. The Broncos are 3-2 this season coming off a 31-3 campaign in 2023.
Junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson was named Tournament MVP, with senior libero Nalani Iosia and junior outside hitter Taylor Preston garnering All-Tournament Team honors.
Anderson led Michigan State with 39 kills over the weekend, hitting .258 along with 19 digs, nine blocks and five service aces. On Friday night Anderson's 14 kill, 11 dig performance helped the Spartans to a 3-1 victory over receiving votes Western Kentucky.
Iosia averaged 5.09 digs per set over three matches and was third on the team with 19 assists. Preston added 31 kills on .254 hitting, leading the team with six service aces and chipping in six blocks. Preston's ten-point service run was instrumental in Saturday's set one win over Marist, helping her to a career-high four aces in the match.
Anderson tallied a season-high 17 kills in Sunday's win over Loyola, adding two aces, six digs and a pair of blocks. Preston and sophomore outside hitter Taylah Holdem each added nine kills. Junior middle blocker Nil Okur had an efficient afternoon, coming off the bench to add eight kills on 10 swings (zero errors) and four blocks.
"I thought Nil Okur came in and was a huge spark for us in the third, had no errors, a good blocking presence," said Johnson. "She's just so fast that when she gets on the court it adds a different element. That was really nice to see after set two."
Senior setter Rachel Muisenga did a little of everything for MSU, leading with 31 assists, while adding nine digs, three aces and three kills. Iosia led all players with 18 digs.
After a back-and-forth start to set one Michigan State began to pull away ahead of the media timeout. After leading just 11-9, the Spartans went on a 6-2 scoring streak to lead 17-11. Muisenga aced the Ramblers on consecutive serves to force a Loyola timeout just two points after the media break. Loyola Chicago pulled back withing three of MSU following a Spartan attacking error at 19-16 but would step on the gas out of the break earning a side out, out of the time out to go ahead 22-16. Muisenga continued to make her presence felt with a set-winning kill for Michigan State.
Set two was all Ramblers, who led by as many as six in the frame, 20-14. The set wasn't without challenge from the Spartans however, who fended off three-straight set points to pull back withing two, 24-22, late.
MSU responded well out of the intermission, getting out to a commanding 6-1 lead in the third following Okur's second kill of the set. The Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the stanza and never relinquished it, leading the third from start to finish. Michigan State led by as many as nine points, 20-11. Loyola Chicago chipped away at the MSU advantage late but the Spartans kept their composure with Holdem finding the decisive kill for set point.
Michigan State pulled out a gritty set four victory in a set that featured seven tied scores. The Spartans led 15-11 going into the media timeout after a kill by senior Grace Kelly, but Loyola made an adjustment scoring six straight to take a lead of its own out of the break. Both sides traded blows until the fourth was tied at 22-all. A kill by Preston and an Okur solo block put the Spartans on match point before Okur tipped a ball into the middle of the defense for the match-winning kill.
"Any time you can start with wins on your home court that's going to bode well for the season," said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. "It's important to me that we protect the Green & White while we're here at home and I thought the team rallied around each other. We used a lot of different players this weekend, and to still come away successful and not get rattled by all the change I thought was positive."
MSU improves to 4-2 overall on the season entering a short week in which they'll have just two days to prepare for Western Michigan, who rolls into town on Wednesday night following a 3-1 victory over No. 24-ranked Marquette on the road in Milwaukee. The Broncos are 3-2 this season coming off a 31-3 campaign in 2023.
Junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson was named Tournament MVP, with senior libero Nalani Iosia and junior outside hitter Taylor Preston garnering All-Tournament Team honors.
Anderson led Michigan State with 39 kills over the weekend, hitting .258 along with 19 digs, nine blocks and five service aces. On Friday night Anderson's 14 kill, 11 dig performance helped the Spartans to a 3-1 victory over receiving votes Western Kentucky.
Iosia averaged 5.09 digs per set over three matches and was third on the team with 19 assists. Preston added 31 kills on .254 hitting, leading the team with six service aces and chipping in six blocks. Preston's ten-point service run was instrumental in Saturday's set one win over Marist, helping her to a career-high four aces in the match.
Anderson tallied a season-high 17 kills in Sunday's win over Loyola, adding two aces, six digs and a pair of blocks. Preston and sophomore outside hitter Taylah Holdem each added nine kills. Junior middle blocker Nil Okur had an efficient afternoon, coming off the bench to add eight kills on 10 swings (zero errors) and four blocks.
"I thought Nil Okur came in and was a huge spark for us in the third, had no errors, a good blocking presence," said Johnson. "She's just so fast that when she gets on the court it adds a different element. That was really nice to see after set two."
Senior setter Rachel Muisenga did a little of everything for MSU, leading with 31 assists, while adding nine digs, three aces and three kills. Iosia led all players with 18 digs.
Rachel Muisenga's third ace of the afternoon forces a Loyola timeout late in set three!#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/lAmOm27KXv
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) September 8, 2024
After a back-and-forth start to set one Michigan State began to pull away ahead of the media timeout. After leading just 11-9, the Spartans went on a 6-2 scoring streak to lead 17-11. Muisenga aced the Ramblers on consecutive serves to force a Loyola timeout just two points after the media break. Loyola Chicago pulled back withing three of MSU following a Spartan attacking error at 19-16 but would step on the gas out of the break earning a side out, out of the time out to go ahead 22-16. Muisenga continued to make her presence felt with a set-winning kill for Michigan State.
Set two was all Ramblers, who led by as many as six in the frame, 20-14. The set wasn't without challenge from the Spartans however, who fended off three-straight set points to pull back withing two, 24-22, late.
MSU responded well out of the intermission, getting out to a commanding 6-1 lead in the third following Okur's second kill of the set. The Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the stanza and never relinquished it, leading the third from start to finish. Michigan State led by as many as nine points, 20-11. Loyola Chicago chipped away at the MSU advantage late but the Spartans kept their composure with Holdem finding the decisive kill for set point.
Spartans battle for set two and come out on top 💪@MSU_Volleyball leads Loyola Chicago 2-1.#B1GVolleyball on @BigTenPlus 💻 pic.twitter.com/vjxQSTV9Wf
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) September 8, 2024
Michigan State pulled out a gritty set four victory in a set that featured seven tied scores. The Spartans led 15-11 going into the media timeout after a kill by senior Grace Kelly, but Loyola made an adjustment scoring six straight to take a lead of its own out of the break. Both sides traded blows until the fourth was tied at 22-all. A kill by Preston and an Okur solo block put the Spartans on match point before Okur tipped a ball into the middle of the defense for the match-winning kill.
A rumble with the Ramblers ends with another Spartan victory 🤩#GoGreen | #SetTheStandard pic.twitter.com/cm5q4YwuWn
— Michigan State Volleyball (@MSU_Volleyball) September 8, 2024
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Team Stats
Loyola
MSU
Kills
43
59
Errors
17
22
Attempts
117
141
Hitting %
.222
.262
Points
62.0
77.0
Assists
42
53
Aces
6
7
Blocks
13
11
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
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